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Zale Thompson

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29 Oct, 2014

Photos of attack

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zale-thompson-photos-of-attackWilliams publishes photos he took before and during the attack. He was initially posing the four police academy graduates for a shot when Thompson charged them, and continued to shoot as the attack took place. The shots show the wounds to the back of Healey’s head, and Thompson’s body after he has apparently been shot. Williams:

I was just in that mode. When I heard the shots fired, it kind of woke me up. I was scared, but I knew the moment had to be captured.

25 Oct, 2014

‘Heightened concern’

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NYPD Commissioner Bratton says there is no indication that Thompson’s attack is related to the attacks in Canada or to extremist ideology, but says this is still being investigated:

I think certainly the heightened concern is relative to that type of assault based on what just happened in Canada.

Crime scene photos

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zale-thompson-hatchetPhotos show authorities inspecting the crime scene, and the weapon used in the attack.

Unprovoked attack

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NYPD Commissioner Bratton says the officers were recent graduates of the Police Academy assigned to 103rd Precinct in Jamaica, Queens. They were at the intersection of 162nd Street and Jamaica Ave. when the attack took place. Bratton:

[The suspect] charged at the officers with a hatchet in his hand. Unprovoked and not speaking a word, the male then swung at one of the officers with a hatchet, striking his right arm. After striking that officer, the suspect continuing swinging the hatchet, striking a second officer in the head.

Kraft is reported to have been struck in the head and Meeker was struck in the arm. Kraft was in surgery Thursday night while Meeker was examined and released. The report doesn’t mention Healey. A 29-year-old female bystander was also struck by a bullet fired by the police, as two officers opened fire and shot Thompson dead at the scene. The bystander underwent surgery at Jamaica Hospital, where she’s recovering.

‘Disturbed loner’

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Law enforcement officials say that despite initial concerns over jihad ideology, social media postings and interviews with people who knew Thompson indicate that he was a disturbed loner angry over what he said was oppression of black Americans in the U.S. He is reported to have been arrested several times in California, including multiple times for assault and domestic violence, state officials say.

24 Oct, 2014

Attacks raise concerns over ISIS influence

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The attacks in Canada and New York raise concerns over the group’s ability to inspire lone wolf attackers. While there are no indications of direct involvement, each of the attackers is thought to have been inspired by ISIS messages, and all three attacks came in less than a month after ISIS called for individual jihad in Western countries. William McCants, a scholar of Islamist militancy at the Brookings Institution:

The Al Qaeda ‘fan boys’ never did this, definitely not in so coordinated a fashion in so close a time.

Mokhtar Awad, a researcher at the liberal Center for American Progress, based in Washington, says the group’s social media messages have changed sharply, from ‘come join the attack’ to ‘we are being attacked and what are you doing? You are just sitting there!’

They are trying to shame sympathizers.  ’If you can’t join us over here, at least do what you can over there.’

‘Throwback to the 70s’

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Thompson’s computer is confiscated for investigation following the attack. Police officer familiar with his postings:

He’s very angry. He’s ranting about America, more racially than anything else.

A picture is found on the computer of Thompson wearing a keffiyeh, and a disturbing conversation with a Facebook friend. Source:

He says American needs to be punished, from within, and he talks about Middle East issues. He says American is oppressing people overseas and that its military is too strong.

In other conversations his ideology sounds more race-based than derived from Islamism:

[He] seems more like a throwback to the anger of the 70s. He says that if there’s going to be change, American blacks need to make the changes. He talks more about revolution than jihad.

May be paralyzed

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James is identified as the bystander who was shot. She is reported to have been standing half a block away at the time of the attack. She is recovering at Jamaica Hospital from surgery to remove the bullet from her lower back. A report says there is a risk she is paralyzed.

Navy vet

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Navy personnel records show Thompson enlisted in February 2001 as a builder constructionman, leaving the service ranked as an E-2 two years later. CNN reports that he received a dishonorable discharge for misconduct. He was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and Naval Construction Group 1, both based at Port Hueneme, Calif.

Photo shows masked, armed Thompson

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CNN reports that Thompson’s Facebook profile picture, previously reported to be an Islamist warrior, is a self-portrait. The black-and-white photo is said to show Thompson himself wearing a keffiyeh, the checkered scarf worn as a symbol of Intifada or holy resistance in Palestine and also used as a symbol of revolution and of heritage, and armed with a sword, spear, and rifle. The profile page’s banner picture is a verse in classic Arabic warning of judgement for people who have gone astray.

23 Oct, 2014

May have been ISIS supporter

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zale-thompson-facebook-pageLaw enforcement sources say Thompson had ties to a radical leader who has advocated violence. His Facebook profile apparently shows an Islamist fighter as the profile picture. Comment on a Youtube video:

If you’re looking for ‘perfect’ Muslims who never make any mistakes in their Jihad, then you will be looking in vain! If the Zionists and the Crusaders had never invaded and colonized the Islamic lands after WW1, then there would be no need for Jihad! Which is better, to sit around and do nothing, or to Jihad fisabeelallah!

FBI investigation

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The FBI is looking into whether the hatchet attack is an act of terrorism. FBI:

This matter has not officially been deemed an act of terrorism as the initial investigation is still ongoing and details are being developed

Attacker identified

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Police sources tentatively identify the attacker as Zale Thompson, a 32-year-old man with a Facebook page containing images of what appears to be a Muslim warrior and prayers. Authorities have found no links to extremist literature or jihadi groups at the time.

Attacks police officers with hatchet

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The man, as yet unidentified, is reported to walk up to the group of police officers who are posing for a photo in Jamaica, Queens, around 2 p.m. Eastern. He attacks without warning, slashing Officer Healey in the head with the hatchet. The man is shot dead at the scene by another officer. Witness:

The cop was bleeding, like, pretty horribly

Healey is taken to Jamaica Hospital Center for surgery.