FBI: Canadian man accused in airport stabbing; terrorism suspected

FLINT, Mich. — 6 p.m. UPDATE: 

The FBI says a Canadian man charged with stabbing an airport officer in the neck in Flint, Michigan, made references during the attack to people being killed in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Special agent in charge David Gelios says authorities are investigating the attack by Amor Ftouhi as an act of terrorism. He says authorities have no indication at this time that Ftouhi was involved in a "wider plot," but the investigation is in its early stages.

Gelios says Ftouhi, who is approximately 50 years old, legally entered the U.S. at Champlain, New York, on June 16 and made his way to Bishop International Airport in Flint on Wednesday morning.

Ftouhi spent some time in public, unsecured areas of the airport before emerging from a restroom, yelling "Allahu akbar" — the Arabic phrase for "God is great" — and attacking the officer with a 12-inch knife that had an 8-inch serrated blade.

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5:30 p.m. UPDATE: 

A Canadian resident in his 50s who came to the U.S. less than a week ago is accused of stabbing and wounding a police officer at a Michigan airport Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors said the suspect, Amor Ftouhi of Quebec, is charged with committing violence at an airport and could face 20 years in prison. Other charges could be pending, the FBI official said.

Investigators said Ftouhi entered the country on June 16 in New York, then made his way to Flint. He did not have a ticket to travel at the time of the incident. After spending some time in the airport, officials said he yelled "Allahu akbar" and allegedly stabbed the officer.

He is expected to be charged with crimes at an international airport and could face 20 years in prison. Other charges could be pending, the FBI official said.

The special agent in charge for the FBI's Detroit office said numerous state, federal, Canadian and local agencies are partnering in the investigation.

A public safety official said Lt. Jeff Neville is in satisfactory condition and is resting comfortably.

4:30 p.m. UPDATE: 

A Michigan county commissioner says an airport police officer has undergone surgery after being stabbed in the neck.

Genesee County Commissioner Mark Young says he spoke with Lt. Jeff Neville's family at a hospital after the Wednesday morning attack at Bishop International Airport in Flint.

Neville's condition was upgraded from critical to stable.

PHOTOS: Michigan airport evacuated after police officer injured

RAW VIDEO: Michigan airport evacuated after police officer injured

Young retired from the Genesee County sheriff's office in 1997 and says his "good friend" Neville did the same two years later.

He says Neville served in various capacities with the sheriff's office including in the jail, on road patrol and as a court officer. He says Neville retired as a lieutenant.

A man has been arrested in the stabbing, which forced officials to evacuate the airport, about 50 miles northwest of Detroit. The FBI is leading the investigation.

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3:45 p.m. UPDATE: 

The FBI says it's aware of reports that an attacker made statements during the stabbing of a police officer at the Flint, Michigan, airport but that it's too early to determine their nature or whether the incident was an act of terrorism.

The statement Wednesday from the FBI says it is believed the stabbing was an isolated incident and there was no further threat to the Flint community. The officer is in stable condition at a hospital, and the suspect in FBI custody and being questioned.

Earlier a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, because the individual wasn't able to publicly discuss the incident, said the FBI is looking at terrorism as a possible motive in the stabbing.

A second law enforcement official also speaking on condition of anonymity said authorities were investigating witness reports the suspect made during the incident, including saying "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great."

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3:20 p.m. UPDATE: 

The White House says President Donald Trump has been briefed on the stabbing of an officer at the Flint, Michigan, airport.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer says Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert briefed Trump on Wednesday regarding the stabbing. Law enforcement officials have said the FBI is looking at terrorism as a possible motive in the assault at Bishop International Airport.

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2:25 p.m. UPDATE: 

A law enforcement official says the FBI is looking at terrorism as a possible motive in the stabbing of an officer at the Flint, Michigan, airport.

The official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the individual wasn't able to publicly discuss it says the investigation of the Wednesday morning assault at Bishop International Airport is in its early stages.

A second law enforcement official also speaking on condition of anonymity says authorities were investigating witness reports the suspect made during the incident, including saying "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great."

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw says one person is in custody and nobody else is believed to have been involved.

Shaw identified the officer who was stabbed is Lt. Jeff Neville with the Bishop International Airport police. He says Neville's condition also has been upgraded from critical to stable condition.

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1:10 p.m. UPDATE: 

Authorities say a police officer injured at the airport in Flint, Michigan, was stabbed in the neck and his condition is improving.

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said the officer stabbed Wednesday morning is Lt. Jeff Neville with the Bishop International Airport police. Shaw says Neville's condition also has been upgraded from critical to stable condition.

Shaw said one person is in custody and nobody else is believed to have been involved.

Shaw says "everything is on the table" as far as motive is concerned but cautioned against jumping to conclusions.

Witnesses have described seeing a man led away in handcuffs by police, Neville bleeding from his neck and knife on the ground.

Shaw said Neville had retired from the Genesee County Sheriff's Department as a lieutenant.

ORIGINAL STORY: 

Officials on Wednesday evacuated an airport in Flint, Michigan, where a witness said he saw an officer bleeding from his neck and a knife nearby on the ground.

On Twitter, Michigan State Police say the officer is in critical condition and the FBI was leading the investigation.

The stabbing is being investigated as a possible terror-related incident, sources told NBC News.

Bishop International Airport posted on Facebook that passengers were safe and were being told to check for flight delays or cancellations.

Ken Brown tells The Flint Journal he was dropping off his daughter at the airport and saw the officer bleeding from his neck. He says he saw a man detained by police and a knife on the ground.

"The cop was on his hands and knees bleeding from his neck," Brown said. "I said they need to get him a towel."

Cherie Carpenter, who was awaiting a flight to Texas to see her new grandchild, tells Flint TV station WJRT she saw the attacker being led away in handcuffs. She described the man in custody as appearing "blank, just totally blank."

Airport and police officials didn't immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Flint is about 50 miles northwest of Detroit.

Cox Media Group