8 Injured in Mass Mall Stabbing, Suspect Mentioned Allah During Attack
UPDATE Monday 10:30 a.m. ET: The suspect has been identified as Dahir A. Adan, 22, a college student in St. Cloud, who also worked part-time for a security company. He reportedly came to the U.S. 15 years ago from Somalia.
Police continue to investigate a mass stabbing at a St. Cloud, Minn., mall on Saturday night that left eight people injured and the suspect dead.
St. Cloud Police Blair Anderson summed up the incident:
At approximately 8 p.m., an armed suspect entered the Crossroads Mall. That individual made some references to Allah and we confirmed that he asked at least one person if they were Muslim before assaulting them."
It's not clear if this was a terrorist attack. Anderson said, "I'm not willing to say that right now," although the FBI has stepped in to figure out who is responsible, while anti-Muslim sentiment is present. An ISIS group has now come forward to claim responsibility.
The suspect, who was wearing a security guard uniform, was shot by an off-duty officer. None of the injuries sustained by the victims are considered life-threatening. WJON reports three people were admitted to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Another five were treated and already released.
3 were admitted to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. 5 were treated and released.
Police also believe the suspect, who they know from a history of minor traffic infractions, was acting alone and that the stabbings occurred at different locations within the mall. His name has not yet been revealed.
The Crossroads Mall will remain closed Sunday as authorities continue to look into the matter.