Man arrested at Atlanta airport in stabbings spree

[Peikko 1,575]

Associated Press Writers= ATLANTA (AP) — A possible suspect in a string of 20 stabbings that terrorized people across three states and left five dead was arrested at an airport as he tried to board a plane for Israel, officials said Thursday.

The man was arrested late Wednesday and was being held on unrelated charges, police in Leesburg, Va., said.

He was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where he was trying to board a Delta Air Lines flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The man has ties to Flint, Mich., where the attacks began May 24, and to Leesburg, the site of three similar attacks last week, Leesburg Police Officer Chris Jones said.

He is an Israeli citizen who is in the U.S. legally, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

"While this is a key step in the investigation there are still many issues that need to be addressed before we identify this individual as the person responsible for this horrific crime spree," Jones said.

Police had been focusing their hunt on Flint — where 16 of the stabbings took place — until Leesburg police reported three attacks. Authorities in Toledo, Ohio, say a stabbing in that city Saturday appears to be linked to the violent spree.

Atlanta authorities became involved late Wednesday night when the suspect was arrested at the airport, said Atlanta Police spokesman Carlos Campos.

"It's not our investigation," he said. "We simply were involved in the apprehension."

The Israeli consulate in Atlanta was in touch with the U.S. government to get information about the case, spokeswoman Amanda Flaks said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a task force led by the Michigan State Police and including the FBI had received 469 tips. Those tips have been passed on to the various law enforcement teams involved in the case.

The attacks began surfacing in late spring, and picked up the pace as the stabber traversed the country.

Police have said the man's attacks usually follow a pattern: He approaches black men late at night on lonely urban roads, and asks for directions or help with a broken-down car. Then, without warning, he pulls out a knife and strikes. Then, he speeds away in his vehicle, leaving them for dead.

The brazen nature and the frequency of the attacks — the assailant has struck an average of about once every four days since the first stabbing in May — has terrified some of those in cities he's already targeted.

The victims have been mostly black, and police suspect the attacks may have been racially motivated. The youngest victim was 17; the oldest was 60. They ranged in size from 5-foot-4 inches and 120 pounds to 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds.

LInk

Perhaps he thought that there was a better than evens chance that a black man would also be a muslim?

Edited August 12, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[^_^ 5,021]

Perhaps he thought that there was a better than evens chance that a black man would also be a muslim?

More likely, him or a family member was victimized by a group of black males using the same ruse.

It's not uncommon around here. Lots of these news stories start with a group of black males asking the victim what time it is, or for help with a car problem.

[Peikko 1,575]

More likely, him or a family member was victimized by a group of black males using the same ruse.

It's not uncommon around here. Lots of these news stories start with a group of black males asking the victim what time it is, or for help with a car problem.

Oh, come on now, he's an Israeli, he's not going to be motivated to kill anyone but muslims, that's a well known fact.

[^_^ 5,021]

Oh, come on now, he's an Israeli, he's not going to be motivated to kill anyone but muslims, that's a well known fact.

Maybe he's an Arab Israeli.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Have fun in jail. He's sure to have a few black boyfriends.

[Peikko 1,575]

Maybe he's an Arab Israeli.

Targeting black Jews?

Really, which scenario is more credible?

[^_^ 5,021]

Targeting black Jews?

Really, which scenario is more credible?

My initial scenario is much more credible. If an Israeli wished to kill Muslims, all he has to do is sign up with the IDF

[Peikko 1,575]

My initial scenario is much more credible. If an Israeli wished to kill Muslims, all he has to do is sign up with the IDF

Your original scenario is not an option

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Because he's Israeli he's out to kill Muslims? And I'm called a bigot for being anti-terrorist?

[Peikko 1,575]

Because he's Israeli he's out to kill Muslims? And I'm called a bigot for being anti-terrorist?

I think I have succeeded. Yay!

[^_^ 5,021]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100813/ap_on_re_us/us_serial_stabbings

[slim 1,514]

I just read through this whole thread and I didn't see one post about banning knives or how AUS has less stabbings per capita than the US or anything like that.

Why is that?

[mawilson 2,133]

I just read through this whole thread and I didn't see one post about banning knives or how AUS has less stabbings per capita than the US or anything like that.

Why is that?

Because toy plastic guns are still legal in most Australian states. Only Queensland did the right thing and banned them.