(Newswire.net — November 30, 2016) — Despite claims by the Islamic State that the Ohio State University attacker was an ISIS fighter, there has been no proof to support this claim. However, CNN reports that authorities have said that he may have been inspired by people close to the terrorist organisation.
Abdul Azak Ali Artan, an Ohio State University student, emigrated from Somalia to the United States in 2007. Neighbors have described him as “normal” and the whole family as pleasant. However, Artan attacked his fellow students and teachers injuring 11 people. He drove his car into a group of students and teachers on campus and then got out and stabbed the closest person to him with a knife.
A police officer at the scene reported the attack, then shot Artan after he refused to put down the knife.
Professor Emeritus William Clark described the scene, which lasted less than a couple of minutes from the moment when Artan drove up on the curb until he was shot.
According to Professor Clark, Watts Hall had just been evacuated for a fire alarm before Artan drove up and crashed his car into a cement planter after hitting him and several more students. Clark recalled he was hit and landed on his back, suffering deep cuts and bruises to his leg.
It all happened so fast that Clark said he barely noticed Artan. After the media reported the attack, ISIS claimed responsibility calling Artan a “soldier”. However, there has been no evidence that Artan was a member of the terrorist organization.
His family are in disbelief, shocked that he was capable of doing such a horrible thing. Professor Clark has also not jumped to conclusions.
“I’m only too aware of the things that drive students to do things they wouldn’t normally do,” Professor Clark said.
“At the end of the day I’m sore and going home this afternoon and he’s dead,” he continued.
Dismissing the possibility that Artan was a terrorist, authorities however, believe he might have been inspired by IS defenders, and that the attack could be religiously motivated.
Allegedly, Artan urged America “to stop interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim Ummah,” a term for Muslim people at large.
His Facebook posts are leading the authorities to believe that the attack was inspired by IS.
“By Allah, we will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims. You will not celebrate or enjoy any holiday,” Artan wrote.