ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - The Latest on the investigation into last month’s stabbings at a Minnesota mall (all times local):
12:15 p.m.
The attorney for the family of the man who stabbed 10 people at a central Minnesota mall says his relatives had no idea he expressed interest in Islam and was planning last month’s attack as authorities have indicated.
Abdulwahid Osman said Thursday following a news conference by the FBI and other officials that the family did not see a change in Dahir Ahmed Adan’s behavior as investigators have claimed. Law enforcement officials say Adan took a recent interest in Islam, withdrew from his friends and encouraged female relatives to be more religious.
Osman says Adan’s parents and other close family members viewed video evidence from the mall attack earlier Thursday. He says Adan’s parents said that is “not the son they knew” and that it is beyond their understanding that he committed the crime.
An off-duty officer shot and killed Adan after he wounded the 10 people at Crossroads Center mall.
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11 a.m.
The FBI says the 20-year-old man who stabbed 10 people last month at a central Minnesota mall may have become radicalized recently and that the attack likely was premeditated.
FBI Special Agent Rick Thornton said Thursday at a news conference that Dahir Ahmed Adan took interest recently in Islam, withdrew from his friends and encouraged female relatives to be more religious.
Thornton also said investigators were told that said Adan yelled “Islam, Islam” and “allahu akbar” during the attack.
Thornton said the investigation is ongoing, including his online history, and that authorities are trying to obtain permission to unlock Adan’s iPhone.
FBI Director James Comey said last week it appeared Adan was at least partly inspired by extremist ideology.
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This item has been corrected to show that Adan encouraged female relatives, not his sisters, to be more religious.
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10:45 a.m.
Authorities say the 20-year-old man who stabbed 10 people last month at a central Minnesota mall asked several people whether they were Muslim before attacking.
Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall said Thursday at a news conference that Dahir Ahmed Adan was armed with two steak knives. The Sept. 17 stabbings began outside of the Crossroads Center mall and then moved inside.
FBI Director James Comey said last week it appeared Adan was at least partly inspired by extremist ideology.
Kendall also said the off-duty officer from a nearby city who shot Adan six times and killed him inside a Macy’s store won’t face charges.
St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis asked that people continue to think about those who were injured as well as those who saw the attack.
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12 a.m.
Authorities are planning to update the public on their investigation into last month’s stabbing that wounded 10 people at a central Minnesota mall.
The FBI has said it was investigating the Sept. 17 attack in St. Cloud as a potential act of terror, but details haven’t been released.
Last week, FBI Director James Comey said it appeared 20-year-old Dahir Ahmed Adan was at least partly inspired by extremist ideology.
Authorities say Adan went to the Crossroads Center mall with what appeared to be a kitchen knife and stabbed or cut 10 people before he was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. None of his victims’ injuries were life-threatening.
A news conference is planned for Thursday morning in St. Cloud.
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