Thursday, April 11, 2019

Amor Ftouhi Bishop International Airport attack

Amor Ftouhi Bishop International Airport attack --- ===

June 21, 2017 Amor Ftouhi Bishop International Airport attack Airport police Lt. Jeff Neville was stabbed in the neck at Bishop International Airport in the city of Flint, Michigan, in the United States. The man, Amor Ftouhi used a knife after he could not buy guns, and reportedly yelled "Allahu akbar" during the attack travelling on a Canadian passport. He was charged with violence at an international airport and interfering with airport security. He was later charged with committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and found guilty of all three charges in November 2018,[4] [5]  Ftouhi told the FBI  of political motivations “You have killed people in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and we’re all going to die.” and he planned to kill a police officer and then take the officer's gun to kill more officers. Ftouhi was a follower of of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden who celebrated the attacks of September 11, 2001, and told authorities the U.S. was an enemy of Allah and that others like him would be coming to harm the country. Defense had a different story that he never intended a mass casualty situation, nor was he a member of any radical Islamic group. They asked for reduced 25-year sentence because he depressed due to financial circumstances and discrimination as he was in debt and being unable to properly support his wife and children after he had moved them from Tunisia to Montreal. He thought that his widow could have collected on his life insurance policy [2] His 'solution' was to become a martyr for Allah and earn a place in Paradise for him and his family as his reward. (1)  April 18, 2019 Amor Ftouhi was sentenced to life in prison. After chanting  “Allahu Akbar” in the courtroom he showed no regret:  “Do I regret what I did? Never,” said Ftouhi. “If I have to do (it) one more time, I’ll do it but not without a machine gun. I regret I didn’t kill that cop.”

*Footnotes
  1. Flint airport stabber sentenced to life in prison, says he doesn’t regret actions  MLIVE Apr 18, 2019
  2. Attorneys seek 25 years for man in Michigan airport stabbing - AP News Apr 11, 2019 


Posted Apr 18, 2019
*Wikipedia

Bishop International Airport attack - WikipediaOn June 21, 2017, airport police Lt. Jeff Neville was stabbed in the neck at Bishop International Airport in the city of Flint, Michigan, in the United States. The man, Amor Ftouhi, reportedly yelled "Allahu akbar" during the attack and was travelling on a Canadian passport.[2] Bomb sniffing dogs searched the evacuated airport, finding nothing. He was charged with violence at an international airport and interfering with airport security.[3] He was later charged with committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries.[4] Found guilty of all three charges in November 2018,[5] he was sentenced to life in prison in April 2019.[1]

Perpetrator[edit]

Amor M. Ftouhi, a truck driver born in Tunisia who lived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,[6] perpetrated the attack.[7] Ftouhi entered the U.S. at the Champlain, New York port of entry five days before the attack. He is a dual citizen of Tunisia and Canada.[8][9][10] Friends and associates described Amor Ftouhi as "a quiet guy" and "a nice person" who was "socially positive."[11]

Investigation[edit]

Ftouhi cooperated with investigators.[12][13] The weapon was described as a 12-inch knife that had an 8-inch serrated blade labelled as an "Amazon Survival Jungle".[12][14] The FBI later told reporters Ftouhi twice tried and failed to buy a gun in Michigan, once on June 18, and then on the day of the attack.[12]
Canadian law enforcement agencies also raided his apartment in Montreal and questioned three people there.[11]

Trial[edit]

On July 5, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted Ftouhi for interference with airport security.[3]
On March 21, 2018, Ftouhi was charged with committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries.[4]
Ftouhi's attorney had originally planned to present a mental-capacity defense, but before trial withdrew plans to offer this defense.[15] Before trial, Ftouhi's lawyer filed a motion to change the trial location from Flint to Detroit due to their concern that pre-trial publicity would bias the potential jurors; the motion was denied.[16]
Jury selection was completed on November 6, 2018 and opening statements began the next day.[17][18]
Ftouhi was found guilty of all charges on November 13, 2018, following a five-day jury trial.[7][5][19] He was sentenced to life in prison on April 18, 2019.[1]

Motives[edit]

The FBI Agent in charge told reporters Ftouhi also said something to the effect of, “You have killed people in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and we’re all going to die.” Ftouhi also reportedly asked police why they didn't kill him.[9] Court documents obtained by the media in 2017 say Ftouhi told investigators he had planned to kill a police officer and then take the officer's gun to kill more officers. The documents also revealed Ftouhi subscribed to the ideology of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and that he celebrated the attacks of September 11, 2001. He also said that he considers the U.S. an enemy of Allahand that others like him would be coming to harm the country.[20][21]
At trial however, federal prosecutors alleged Ftouhi plotted the attack because of financial difficulties and wanted to kill a police officer and then be killed to get into heaven. Investigators found a handwritten will and testament in a safe in an apartment closet in Montreal that said Ftouhi loved his wife and children, but he was struggling finding a job and was feeling shame, humiliation and remorse that he had a large amount of debt.[22]

Victims[edit]

Bishop International Airport Authority Police Lieutenant Jeff Neville (also a retired Genesee County Sheriff's deputy) was stabbed in the neck.[9] After undergoing surgery, his condition was upgraded from critical to stable.[11] On June 26, 2017 he was discharged from the hospital.[23]
Airport maintenance worker Richard Krul was cut on the hand while attempting to subdue Ftouhi.[24]

Responses[edit]

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a statement about the incident: “I want to assure all our law enforcement across the nation, any attack on someone who serves and protects our citizens will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am proud of the swift response from the F.B.I. and our federal prosecutors and their partnership with local police and the Canadian authorities. Our prayers are with the officer and his family for a full recovery.”[25][11]
Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the incident a "heinous and cowardly attack."[11]
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder reacted with a series of tweets: "Even with this attack, we must continue to balance our need for increased security with understanding and tolerance".[26] "I want to thank all law enforcement officers and first responders who assisted at the scene today." [27] "I am heartened to hear that Lt. Jeff Neville is expected to make a full recovery."[28]
Lt. Neville was honored at the Fenton Fourth of July Parade where he spoke about the incident publicly for the first time, telling reporters, "That guy was up against more than what he thought he was up against, you know. Really. He picked the wrong airport."[29]
The Flint Islamic Center gave Lt. Neville a check for $10,000 after a prayer service at the airport, while saying about Ftouhi, "He is against our Islam, against our principal, against all values that we hold."[30]
Lt. Neville was also honored by the American Muslim Law Enforcement Officers of New York and New Jersey.[31]
Airport maintenance worker Richard Krul, who helped restrain Ftouhi and was cut on the hand, was also given awards for his actions.[24][32]
On March 12, 2018, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners honored Chief Christopher Miller, Lieutenant Dan Owen, Officer Chris Curnow, airport employee Richard Krul and Joe Garza for their efforts after the attack.[33]
On March 24, 2018, airport firefighters Lt. Daniel Owen, Michael Chilson, and Christopher Tolan were named firefighters of the year by the Genesee County Association of Fire Chiefs for their lifesaving efforts after the attack.[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b c Flint airport stabber sentenced to life in prison, says he doesn’t regret actions The Flint Journal via MLive.com, April 18, 2019
  2. ^ "Canadian suspect charged as FBI investigate terrorism in Michigan airport attack". Global News/Associated Press.
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b Goodin-Smith, Oona (July 5, 2017). "New Charges Against Flint Bishop Airport Stabbing Suspect May Mean Life in Prison". The Flint Journal.
  4. ^ Jump up to:a b Acosta, Roberto (March 21, 2018). "Flint Airport Stabbing Suspect Facing New Terrorism Charge". The Flint Journal.
  5. ^ Jump up to:a b Jury convicts Canadian man on terrorism, all charges in stabbing of airport cop The Flint Journal via MLive.com, November 13, 2018
  6. ^ Elisha Anderson, Accused Flint stabber was truck driver, married father of 3, Detroit Free Press (June 22, 2017).
  7. ^ Jump up to:a b Robert Snell, Flint airport stabber convicted in terrorism case, The Detroit News (November 13, 2018).
  8. ^ Keith Coffman, Canadian man faces extra charge in Michigan airport stabbing, Reuters (March 21, 2018).
  9. ^ Jump up to:a b c ABC12 News Team (June 21, 2017). "Stabbing at Bishop Airport Being Investigated as Act of Terrorism, One Person in Custody". Flint, MI: WJRT-TV.
  10. ^ Woods, Allan. "Canadian man charged after possible terror attack at Michigan airport, FBI says". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  11. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e "Friends, Neighbours Describe Montreal Man Accused of Flint Stabbing as Gentle, Quiet". CTV Montreal. June 21, 2017.
  12. ^ Jump up to:a b c Goodin-Smith, Oona (June 22, 2017). "Flint Airport Stabbing Suspect Tried to Buy Gun in Michigan Before Attack". The Flint Journal.
  13. ^ Goodin-Smith, Oona (June 21, 2017). "What We Know About Amor Ftouhi, Flint Bishop Airport Stabbing Suspect". The Flint Journal.
  14. ^ Karoub, Jeff; Householder, Mike (June 21, 2017). "Canadian C in US Airport Attack Investigated as Terror". Fox News.
  15. ^ Attorney withdraws plans for mental health defense of accused Bishop Airport stabber The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 2, 2018
  16. ^ Judge denies change of venue for accused airport stabber The Flint Journal via MLive.com, September 6, 2018
  17. ^ Jury selection complete, trial starts today in Bishop airport stabbing WJRT-TV (ABC 12), November 7, 2018
  18. ^ Accused Flint airport stabber 'on a mission to murder,' U.S. attorney says The Flint Journal via MLive.com, November 7, 2018
  19. ^ Montreal man convicted of terrorism in Michigan airport stabbing NBC News, November 13, 2018
  20. ^ Bondy, Dave (August 7, 2017). "Flint Airport Stabbing Suspect Told Investigators He Wanted to Kill More Officers". Saginaw, MI: WEYI-TV.
  21. ^ Williams, Corey (August 9, 2017). "Prosecutors: Flint Airport Stabber Amor Ftouhi Celebrated 9/11 Attacks". Toronto Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  22. ^ Alleged Flint airport stabber's will said he loved Jihad more than wife The Flint Journal via MLive.com November 8, 2018
  23. ^ Fonger, Ron (June 26, 2017). "Cop Attacked with Knife at Flint Bishop Airport Discharged from Hospital". The Flint Journal.
  24. ^ Jump up to:a b Acosta, Roberto (August 2, 2017). "Maintenance Worker Honored for Actions During Flint Airport Stabbing". The Flint Journal.
  25. ^ Hartmann, Margaret (June 21, 2017). "Flint, Michigan Airport Stabbing Investigated as Act of Terrorism". New York.
  26. ^ Snyder, Rick [@onetoughnerd] (June 21, 2017). "Even with this attack, we must continue to balance our need for increased security with understanding and tolerance"(Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Snyder, Rick [@onetoughnerd] (June 21, 2017). "I want to thank all law enforcement officers and first responders who assisted at the scene today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Snyder, Rick [@onetoughnerd] (June 21, 2017). "I am heartened to hear that Lt. Jeff Neville is expected to make a full recovery" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ Ramey, Elisse (July 4, 2017). "Lt. Jeff Neville: Airport Attacker 'Picked the Wrong Airport'". Flint, MI: WJRT-TV.
  30. ^ Hybels, Amy (July 7, 2017). "Flint Islamic Center Presents Lt. Jeff Neville with Check for $10,000 Following Friday Prayers". Flint, MI: WJRT-TV.
  31. ^ ABC12 News Team (July 6, 2017). "American Muslim Law Enforcement Officers of New York and New Jersey Honor Lt. Jeff Neville". Flint, MI: WJRT-TV.
  32. ^ ABC12 News Team (October 24, 2017). "Airport Employee Honored for His Heroism After Lt. Neville Attack". Flint, MI: WJRT-TV.
  33. ^ NBC25/FOX66 Newsroom (March 12, 2018). "Genesee County Board Honors Heroes of Bishop Airport Attack". Saginaw, MI: WEYI-TV.
  34. ^ Acosta, Roberto (March 28, 2018). "3 firefighters awarded for life-saving efforts in Bishop Airport stabbing". The Flint Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

*Timeline


Lawyers for Muslim convicted of jihad stabbing at Michigan airport claim he suffered discrimination
By Robert Spencer on Apr 12, 2019


The victim card keeps on getting played, even in the most preposterous of circumstances, such as in this case, apparently because it continues to work. Amor Ftouhi’s lawyers claim he suffered as a Muslim in Canada, one of the world’s most welcoming countries, and that his jihad attack was not jihad, despite his repeated avowals […]e living in Tunisia, Ftouhi told the FBI, he had “celebrated” the Sept. 11, 2001, killings and praised bin Laden for organizing them. He said he was “upset” when bin Laden was killed.   victim of discrimination in Montreal because his car tires were once slashed, he didn’t get prayer breaks at work and he missed out on delivery jobs because he refused to transport alcohol. After losing his driving job, he decided “enough was enough and it was time for him to act,” the FBI wrote.  supporter of Osama bin Laden [UBL] long before coming to Canada and had planned to kill police officers.
June 21, 2017 Daily Signal 98. Flint’s Bishop International Airport Stabbing Attack successful, terrorist apprehended  Amor M. Ftouhi, a Canadian/Tunisian dual citizen, attacked a police officer at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. The FBI reports that he continued to shout and said something along the lines of, “You have killed people in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and we are all going to die.” He was quickly subdued by a nearby police officer and bystanders. The police officer was rushed to surgery and is now listed in satisfactory condition. This attack is the 12th plot that did not involve terrorist element that was homegrown in the U.S; 84 other plots had a homegrown element.

Attorneys seek 25 years for man in Michigan airport stabbing Fox News April 11,  2019  DETROIT – A Montreal man convicted of stabbing a police officer at a Flint, Michigan, airport was in debt and saw the attack as a way to become a ... shows Amor Ftouhi. Lawyers for the Montreal man facing life in prison for terrorism and other crimes in the stabbing of a Flint, Mich. airport officer  convicted in November on several charges in the June 2017 attack, including committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Witnesses said Ftouhi, who is Muslim, yelled "Allahu akbar" — or "God is great" — while attacking Lt. Jeff Neville, who survived being stabbed in the neck.

Ftouhi could get a life sentence, but his attorneys ask in the court filing for him to get 25 years and that he serve that time in solitary confinement.

They wrote that Ftouhi was depressed about being in debt and being unable to properly support his wife and children after he had moved them from Tunisia to Montreal. He also expected that other officers would have killed him and that his widow could have collected on his life insurance policy, they wrote.

"Mr. Ftouhi believed he had found a 'solution' to his financial and emotional predicament: become a martyr for Allah and earn a place in Paradise for him and his family as his reward,"   Ftouhi intended to stab Neville, take his gun and start shooting people at Flint Bishop Airport. He legally drove into the U.S. at Champlain, New York, and arrived in Flint five days later. He tried but failed to buy a gun at a gun show and instead bought a large knife.  plan was never to become an indiscriminate killer, attempting to create a mass casualty situation, nor was he trying to be a member of any radical Islamic group,"   "He did not believe Allah would accept that an armed Canadian officer was an enemy of Muslims, but he believed an armed United States government official would be acceptable to Allah, given his perceived view of U.S. involvement in the Middle East."

*Sources 

Flint airport terror suspect Amor Ftouhi convicted after jury trial
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/.../ftouhi...all...airport.../1989973002/
Nov 13, 2018 - Amor Ftouhi faces up to life in federal prison after a jury convicted him of terrorism charges. ... Flint airport stabber convicted in terrorism case.

FBI: Amor Ftouhi tried to buy guns, cased Bishop airport before attack
https://www.abc12.com/video?vid=500171221
The lead FBI investigator into the attack on Lt. Jeff Neville at Bishop International Airport testified on Friday that Amor Ftouhi tried to buy guns in the Detroit area ...

Jury convicts Amor Ftouhi of terrorism in Flint airport stabbing - WXYZ-TV
https://www.wxyz.com/.../jury-convicts-amor-ftouhi-of-terrorism-in-flint-airport-stab...
Nov 13, 2018 - A jury has convicted Amor Ftouhi of terrorism charges for the stabbing of a police officer at Flint Bishop International Airport in 2017.

Man convicted on terrorism charge in 2017 Michigan airport stabbing ...
https://www.reuters.com/...airport/man-convicted-on-terrorism-charge-in-2017-michi...
Nov 13, 2018 - FILE PHOTO: Amor Ftouhi, arrested in connection with the stabbing of a police officer at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan, ...

Lawyers seek 25 years for Montreal man in Michigan airport stabbing ...
https://www.ctvnews.ca/.../lawyers-seek-25-years-for-montreal-man-in-michigan-airport...
 Amor Ftouhi was convicted in November on several charges in the ... Montreal man accused in U.S. airport stabbing faces new terrorism charge.

Flint airport attacker Amor Ftouhi convicted of terrorism
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/.../11/...airport...amor-ftouhi/1990504002/
Nov  13, 2018 - Amor Ftouhi was convicted of three crimes Tuesday.

Lawyers seek 25 years for Montreal man in Michigan airport stabbing ...
https://www.thestar.com › News › Canada
Witnesses of the June 2017 attack said Amor Ftouhi yelled “Allahu akbar” — or “God is great” — while attacking a police officer, who survived ...

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