Cover photo from Mark Albert.
UPDATE: CBS News is reporting that the FBI is investigating the incident as a lone wolf terror attack. Suspect is a Somali, Mohamed Barry:
CBS News has identified the suspect as Mohamed Barry, however neither 10TV nor Columbus Police have confirmed the suspect’s name. CBS News also reports Barry has a Somali background and may have traveled to Dubai in 2012.
Law enforcement tells them the incident appears to be the type of “lone wolf terrorist attacks they’re trying to stop.”
The FBI is assisting in the investigation.
Original post:
A suspect who attacked patrons and staff at the Nazareth Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, with a machete last night was shot and killed by police minutes later, and there are some indications that the attack may have been motivated by the owner’s Israeli heritage.
Four people were transported to the hospital, one critically injured. Victims were able to get video of the suspect’s car and a partial license plate. Police were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle and gave chase. After spinning the car out, the suspect emerged with both a machete and a knife and lunged at police, at which point the suspect was shot and killed.
We have a name of the suspect, but police so far have refused to confirm so we are holding it at this time.
At a press conference late last night, a police spokesman was asked by reporters about claims the suspect was on the terror watchlist:
Reporters hearing machete attacker was on terrorist watchlist. FBI now assisting in investigation. #gahanna
— Gahanna News (@Gahannaohio) February 12, 2016
The scene was described as a “bloodbath”:
Patrons: bloodbath inside Nazareth Mediterranean Cuisine after man attacks people inside with machete.@wsyx6 pic.twitter.com/0N8TJqnFms — Rob Wells (@robwsyx6) February 12, 2016
The popular owner of the restaurant is an Israeli Christian from Haifa. The husband of one of the victims claimed on Twitter last night that the suspect entered the restaurant and asked where the owner was from.
@Aly10TV @10TV My wife works at the Nazareth restaurant opposite of Home Depot. She said a man came in earlier in the day asking about where
— static (@Tim_Static) February 11, 2016
@Aly10TV @10TV the owner of the restaurant was from (it’s a middle eastern food restaurant). Came in later & just started attacking patrons — static (@Tim_Static) February 11, 2016
Police said that some kind of discussion or altercation then occurred at which time the suspect left. He then returned approximately 45 minutes later with the machete and immediately began attacking patrons and staff. They resisted and began throwing chairs at the suspect. One of the staff apparently grabbed some kind of weapon (the owner was known for walking around with an aluminum baseball bat) and the suspect fled.
I corresponded with the sister of one of the victims last night:
@ReneeLaSalle @pspoole My brother was singing there tonight. Friends posting on his page prayers. Called Grant will not release info.
— Barbie2theright (@Barbie2theright) February 12, 2016
@rayann2320 no one died, all just injured, my brother was critical, upgraded to stable. Thank God.
— Barbie2theright (@Barbie2theright) February 12, 2016
The FBI were tearing the suspect’s car apart last night and have searched the suspect’s home.
BREAKING: FBI confirms involvement in investigation at Nazareth Mediterranean Cuisine. pic.twitter.com/V4PmnPUkhV
— Dan Pearlman (@danpearlman) February 12, 2016
We will have more updates as they are available and when police confirm the identity of the suspect.
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