Officers stabbed and shot in NYC: Terror, anti-police bias suspected
An officer on looting patrol in New York city was ambushed and stabbed in the neck, and two responding officers were shot in the ensuing struggle last night, according to the Associated Press.
The suspect, 20-year old Dzenan Camovic, an immigrant from the Balkan region, was shot eight times and is in critical condition. The FBI is investigating the attack as “terror-related,” but the motivation for the attack is unclear.
“One senior source said Camovic had recently shared anti-police sentiments on his social media feeds,” reports NY’s NBC affiliate.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is searching the suspect’s Brooklyn home.
New York saw continuing protests in the George Floyd matter last night, but the widespread looting seemed to diminish.
New York had an unenviable recent history of attacks on police officers prior to the attack. The violence surrounding the George Floyd protests has escalated that record of violence.
More than 150 officers have been assaulted in NY during the recent protests says one police union.
“What we know at this point and time is that it appears to be a completely, cowardly, despicable, unprovoked attack on a defenseless police officer and thank God we aren’t planning a funeral right now,” New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said of last night’s attack.
The three officers are being treated for non-life threatening wounds.
Reports say the suspect got a hold of an officer’s gun after the stabbing and began firing.
Shea said surveillance video will show the suspect attacking the officer with a knife “casually” and “without warning.” Law enforcement also said the attacks were captured on officers’ body cams.
“I saw them shooting and then two of those officers started hiding behind their vehicle, like they were trying to avoid being shot,” Brooklyn resident Jean Jones told the NYPost.
“I just heard gunshots, at least 16 if I was being conservative,” he said.
“It’s a lot. I was just thinking about police officers. It’s unfortunate that things kind of escalate,” he said.
Twenty-two shell casing were recovered at the scene.
The NYPD released a photograph of the knife used in the attack. The photo shows a kitchen knife stained with blood on the tip.
Brooklyn resident Joe Marino tweets:
FBI JTTF arriving at the Brooklyn home of 20-year old Dzenan Camovic. Authorities are investigating whether the stabbing of an NYPD cop in Brooklyn by Camovic was a terror-inspired assault by an immigrant from the Balkans, according to sources and a report.
The Police Benevolent Association is calling on politicians to better support the police.
Last night 3 of our officers were almost killed. 1 officer was stabbed in the neck & 2 other were shot. The silence from political leaders in the @NYCCouncil & those who serve in Albany is deafening. Frankly, they do not support the men & women of the NYPD
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