Police: London stabbings that killed US woman not terrorism

[webfact]

Police: London stabbings that killed US woman not terrorism

By JILL LAWLESSS and DANICA KIRKA

 

LONDON (AP) — A Somali-Norwegian teenager went on a knife rampage through London's Russell Square, a hub for students and tourists, fatally stabbing an American woman from Florida and wounding five other people.

 

Police said Thursday that it wasn't terrorism — but in a city on edge after a summer of attacks elsewhere in Europe, both authorities and London residents initially responded as if it were. Police flooded the streets with extra officers and mobilized counterterror detectives before saying the shocking burst of violence appeared to have been "triggered by mental-health issues."

 

Police officers used a stun gun to subdue the 19-year-old suspect at the scene of the stabbings late Wednesday, among busy streets lined with hotels close to the British Museum.

 

"Terror in London" ran the headline in the Mail Online, one of several media outlets to speculate that the attack was an act of terrorism. Police initially said terrorism was "one line of inquiry being explored."

 

But hours later Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said "we have found no evidence of radicalization or anything that would suggest the man in our custody was in any way motivated by terrorism."

 

He said detectives from the force's murder and terrorism squads had interviewed the suspect, his family and witnesses and searched properties.

 

"We believe this was a spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random," Rowley said.

 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said "there is no evidence at all that this man was motivated by Daesh" — another name for the Islamic State group — or similar organizations.

 

Rowley said the suspect, whose name hasn't been released, is a Norwegian of Somali ancestry — though police don't consider that "relevant to the motivation for his actions." Norway's National Criminal Investigation Service said he had left the Scandinavian country in 2002, when he was a small child.

 

The Metropolitan Police identified the dead woman as 64-year-old Darlene Horton.

 

Florida State University in Tallahassee said Horton was married to psychology professor Richard Wagner, who had been teaching summer classes in London.

 

"There are no words to express our heartache over this terrible tragedy," Florida State University president John Thrasher said in a statement. "We are shocked that such senseless violence has touched our own FSU family."

 

Two Australians, an Israeli, an American and a British citizen were wounded, none with life-threatening injuries.

 

Police said a British man with a stab wound to his stomach was hospitalized in serious but stable conditionpot. The four others were treated and released Thursday.

 

While knife crime is a regular occurrence in London — there have been two other blade killings this week — the scale and randomness of the rampage rattled nerves. It came just days after authorities warned the British public to be vigilant in light of attacks inspired by the Islamic State group elsewhere in Europe.

 

Student Megan Sharrock, 18, looked out her window and saw someone lying on the sidewalk under a blanket.

 

"There was like two rivers of blood running away from the person so we thought, yeah, someone has been killed," she said.

 

"It's really shocking, (a) scary world we live in to think that could happen," she said. "That could happen to anyone, just walking down the street."

 

Helen Edwards, 33, who lives in the area, came out for a walk and found it thronging with armed police near. In a city with vivid memories of the deadly July 7, 2005, bomb attacks on public transport — two of which struck near Russell Square — she immediately suspected that an attack had occurred.

 

"There is always that thing in the back of your mind," she said. "You live with that threat of terrorism or other crimes in the back of your mind. It wasn't a huge shock I guess."

 

The response to the attack is complicated by the frequent overlap between terrorism and mental illness. Many "lone wolf" attackers have a history of mental-health problems, including a Syrian who blew himself up in the German town of Ansbach last month and a Somali man who was sentenced to life this week for trying to behead a London Underground passenger.

 

Emily Corner, a researcher at University College London who studies the links between mental illness and terrorism, said every incident of major violence now sparks the same debate: "Are they a terrorist or are they mentally ill?" In some cases, the answer is both, though Corner stresses that most terrorist attackers are not mentally ill, and most people with mental illness are not violent.

 

The Russell Square attack came within hours of an announcement by London police that they were putting more armed officers on the streets to bolster public confidence in the wake of recent attacks in Europe.

 

Most British police don't carry guns, a principle that remains unchanged. Even with the additional armed officers, the vast majority of London's 31,000 police officers won't be armed.

 

Armed officers responded to Wednesday's stabbings, but didn't fire any shots.

 

Rowley said "we should be proud of them and the British tradition of using the minimum necessary force."

 

Police have urged Britons to be vigilant after attacks this year in France, Belgium and Germany, several committed by people who professed allegiance to the Islamic State group.

 

In the last three years London has seen two knife attacks by people inspired by radical Islam. In May 2013, two al-Qaida-inspired London men killed off-duty soldier Lee Rigby in the street near his barracks. In January, mentally ill Muhiddin Mire tried to behead a London Underground passenger, shouting that he was doing it "for Syria."

 

Knives are the most common murder weapon in Britain, which has strict gun-control laws. There were 186 knife killings in the year to March 2015, according to government statistics — a third of all murders.

___

Associated Press journalists Jonathan Shenfield in London, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this story.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-05

[Ulysses G.]

What nonsense. He was obviously influenced by Islamic terrorism. Apparently, he was not under direct orders from ISIS, but his actions promote their agenda despite that.

[Rc2702]

21 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

What nonsense. He was obviously influenced by Islamic terrorism. Apparently, he was not under direct orders from ISIS, but his actions promote their agenda despite that.

You may be correct, his actions seem to replicate recent events and given they may not release his name it shows they are trying to protect his agenda. What an absolute winner for the police to have had 70 officers on site in 6 minutes and aprehending the guy.  Good decision to razer too. If he had been shot dead which could have been warranted then I doubt they would have tried to hide his ID.

 

 

[mesterm]

2 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

What nonsense. He was obviously influenced by Islamic terrorism. Apparently, he was not under direct orders from ISIS, but his actions promote their agenda despite that.

 

Come on, let's be tolerant. As tolerant and progressive as the British Muslims:

 

"Nearly a quarter (23%) supported the introduction of sharia law in some areas of Britain, and 39% agreed that wives should always obey their husbands. Nearly a third (31%) thought it was acceptable for a British Muslim man to have more than one wife. 52% agreed that homosexuality should be illegal."

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/11/british-muslims-strong-sense-of-belonging-poll-homosexuality-sharia-law

[SABloke]

He wasn't motivated by Daesh, but what about the Quran 

 

Well I guess religious people could all be cosidered mentally ill if believing in mythical beings qualifies for insanity...nice spin by The Met.

[i claudius]

Mad or not ,if his family had never been allowed into the west ,the woman would be alive . also his schoolmates say he was just a normal kid ,no mental health problems , so another"cover up"

[Usernames]

The police are hiding something.  Too fuzzy on the details.  Just like the Cologne police coverup.

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, i claudius said:

Mad or not ,if his family had never been allowed into the west ,the woman would be alive . also his schoolmates say he was just a normal kid ,no mental health problems , so another"cover up"

There are nutters in every country, but apart from that I agree with your post.

 

Immigration needs to be stopped - unless they can provide proof that they were likely to be killed in their own country as they supported Western values.

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, Usernames said:

The police are hiding something.  Too fuzzy on the details.  Just like the Cologne police coverup.

Repeat post for some unknown reason.

Edited August 5, 2016 by dick dasterdly

[RickBradford]

What we see from the PC politicians and media is exactly as Adolph Reed wrote over a decade ago.

 

“.. their capacity for high-minded fervor for the emptiest and sappiest platitudes; their tendencies to make a fetish of procedure over substance and to look for technical fixes to political problems; their ability to screen out the mounting carnage in the cities they inhabit as they seek pleasant venues for ingesting good coffee and scones;  their reflex to wring their hands and look constipated in the face of conflict; and, most of all, their spinelessness and undependability in crises”.

 

The enemy within.

[Patong2]

1 hour ago, Usernames said:

The police are hiding something.  Too fuzzy on the details.  Just like the Cologne police coverup.

And the recent Munich shooting, the German police refused to release his name until after a meeting with Merckel the next day and then they gave it as David Somboly.

Of course it was Ali Daud Somboli but Merckel wants to hide the Muslim Link.

They also said he was German but in fact German Iranian and had only returned to Germany in the last couple of years.

[GuestHouse]

5 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

What nonsense. He was obviously influenced by Islamic terrorism. Apparently, he was not under direct orders from ISIS, but his actions promote their agenda despite that.

 

 

Given that a stated aim of Islamist Terrorism is to divide societies by spreading fear and distrust - it seems your posts on anything relating to 'Islamism', 'Islam' or 'Muslims' also promote the ISIS agenda. 

[whatproblem]

What do you expect will a Muslum mayor ,we know where his allegiance is

[GuestHouse]

9 minutes ago, whatproblem said:

What do you expect will a Muslum mayor ,we know where his allegiance is

 

 

Well you seem too anyway. 

[whatproblem]

21 minutes ago, GuestHouse said:

 

 

Well you seem too anyway. 

Correct

[phantomfiddler]

What a load of c**p ! Why have the authorities got their heads where the sun never shines ? The muslims must be laughing themselves silly as they slowly but surely commit atrocities against against non-muslims with no come-back at all

[dunroaming]

The man had lived in the UK for 14 years and had no links to any terrorist organisations.  There was nothing on his computer that indicated that he even looked at any sites relating to any Muslim issues and no literature in his home.  He was mentally ill but hey! don't let facts get in the way when you are banging your Islamophobia drum! 

[Steely Dan]

The European governments would have their people believe absurdity, no doubt counting on people's preference for being lied to rather than told uncomfortable truths. Welcome to our Orwellian future.

[thaibeachlovers]

I see that Britain is still the US's poodle. Different PM, same agenda.

 

I strongly suggest people view Terry Gilliam's film Brazil. It is showing where all this government BS is leading.

 

[Grouse]

Fortunately, the U.K. Is still a civilised country

 

Police used minimum necessary force ( this NOT the USA)

 

Declining to provide personal details is to minimise the oxygen of publicity.

 

I am anti-Muslim ( they have radicalised ME). But I respect due process of the law.

 

IF there is another Islamic outrage in the UK, there will be serious unrest.

 

BTW, why is islam and muslim capitalised by my iPhone but aetheist is not?

[Steely Dan]

The trouble with fibbing is that lies told tend to unravel in time. Apparently a profile on a book rating website  in Bulen's name showed an interest in Islamic theology listing a biography of the prophet Mohammad and a book of selected verses from the Hadiths and Koran as recent reads.

 

 

[GuestHouse]

20 minutes ago, Steely Dan said:

The trouble with fibbing is that lies told tend to unravel in time. Apparently a profile on a book rating website  in Bulen's name showed an interest in Islamic theology listing a biography of the prophet Mohammad and a book of selected verses from the Hadiths and Koran as recent reads.

 

 

 

My recent reads include; Flammable gas cloud ignitions, blast radius v fatality, radiated heat burns v distance from fire, spare parts for 1980s Campagnolo gears and recipes for scones. 

 

[Steely Dan]

57 minutes ago, GuestHouse said:

 

My recent reads include; Flammable gas cloud ignitions, blast radius v fatality, radiated heat burns v distance from fire, spare parts for 1980s Campagnolo gears and recipes for scones. 

 

I would find all of those books deeply problematic if mixed with a book on Islamic theology, even the one about scones (I would assume dyslexia in that case). The man was no doubt deeply troubled if reports that he had threatened suicide three times this year are correct. The question being how his suicudal thoughts became homicidal in the case of this devout Muslim ? How did he adopt the modus operandi of other Muslim murderers both in Europe and Israel? Why Russell square so close to one of the places the 7/7 bombers attacked?

[Kiwiken]

I will keep an eye on myself. I have a copy of the Quran. So if I see myself developing any militant tendencies I will warn you in Advance

[Ulysses G.]

9 hours ago, GuestHouse said:

 

 

Given that a stated aim of Islamist Terrorism is to divide societies by spreading fear and distrust - it seems your posts on anything relating to 'Islamism', 'Islam' or 'Muslims' also promote the ISIS agenda. 

 

Like terrorism is not doing that already. Much better to stick your head in the sand and ignore reality. 

[MissAndry]

3 hours ago, GuestHouse said:

 

My recent reads include; Flammable gas cloud ignitions, blast radius v fatality, radiated heat burns v distance from fire, spare parts for 1980s Campagnolo gears and recipes for scones. 

 

 

Reading your post has triggered my mental health problems, I could die for a scone.

No wait, I know how to make them myself ...... no need to die.

 

In the oven already 26 mins from reading to baking.

Edited August 5, 2016 by MissAndry

[GuestHouse]

17 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Like terrorism is not doing that already. Much better to stick your head in the sand and ignore reality. 

 

Or better still, challenge the work you yourself are putting a lot of effort into in your attempts to bolster misunderstanding, fear and hatred. 

 

 

[Ulysses G.]

Just calling a spade a spade. Too many folks these days refuse to do that.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[GuestHouse]

Just now, Ulysses G. said:

Just calling a spade a spade.

 

And I'm calling a fear and hate monger a fear and hate monger, you are a mouth piece for the fear and hatred that terrorist clearly state they wish to instil in our society. 

 

[Ulysses G.]

Murdering innocent people does that already - VERY effectively. Unfortunately, apologists for radical Islam like to pretend otherwise. Exposing evil is always a good thing.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Ulysses G.