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Authorities Investigating Whether OSU Attack Was Act Of Terrorism

abcnews.com

Classes resume today at Ohio State University, less than 24 hours after an attack left eleven people injured and the attacker dead. OSU police chief Craig Stone says 18-year-old Abdul Razak Ali Artan ran down several people with his car near Watts Hall yesterday morning, then began stabbing people with a butcher knife. Artan was shot and killed by campus police officer Alan Horujko. Authorities are investigating whether the attack was an act of terror. Columbus police and the FBI say Artan had ranted on social media against American influence in Muslim countries and expressed to OSU's student newspaper concerns about safety as a Muslim before the attack. FBI agents searched Artan's off-campus home last night to collect evidence about any possible links to terrorist groups. Artan was an Ohio State student and Somali national with permanent U.S. residency.  Columbus and national Muslim leaders are asking people to remain calm.  Abdi Diini of the Columbus Somali Association says  his community is shocked by the tragedy.

Jennifer Nimmer, legal director of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the attack.  But she's afraid some people may lash out at Muslims.

nimmer...against_others.mp3

Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther says the investigation will be through.

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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