A Canadian citizen originally from Tunisia was arrested for stabbing a police officer at an airport in Flint, Michigan on Wednesday, June 21, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI confirmed it is investigating the stabbing of Lt. Jeff Neville at Bishop International Airport as an act of terrorism. At this time, there are no indications the suspect was involved in a “wider plot”, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge David Gelios.
The suspect is identified as Amor Ftouhi, a 49-year-old man who had been living in Montreal. The FBI said Ftouhi entered the United States on June 16 at Lake Champlain, N.Y. and traveled to the Flint airport on Wednesday morning.
According to the FBI complaint, Ftouhi yelled “Allahu Akbar” and something similar to “you have killed people in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and we are all going to die” after he stabbed the airport officer. After being detained, Ftouhi reportedly asked why the officer who subdued him did not kill him.
Neville was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, but improved after undergoing surgery. On Thursday, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said Neville was in “good” condition.
Montreal police raided an apartment in the St-Michel neighborhood believed to be connected to Ftouhi. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are assisting the FBI with the case.
Ftouhi appeared in federal court in Flint on Wednesday. He is charged with committing violence at an airport and faces 20 years in prison if convicted.
Amor Ftouhi heard the charge against him Wednesday and will get a court-appointed attorney https://t.co/HrLrDcULdz #BishopAirport pic.twitter.com/aht2OmoiU7
— NBC25 / FOX66 News (@nbc25fox66) June 22, 2017