Man with ‘Islamic Extremist Leanings’ Attacks Police in Queens
Zale Thompson had inveighed against ‘the Zionists and the Crusaders’
October 24, 2014
Security camera footage of Zale Thompson before the assault (NYPD)
On Thursday, Zale Thompson, a resident of Queens, attacked two police officers with an ax while they were posing for an outdoor photograph with colleagues, according to the NYPD. One officer was struck in the arm and another in the back of the head, before others shot and killed the assailant. Police are still investigating Thompson’s motive, but news outlets and monitoring groups have uncovered statements by Thompson that reflect “Islamic ‘extremist leanings,’” reports the AFP, citing the SITE monitoring group. For instance, last month, Thompson posted a YouTube comment stating:
If you’re looking for “perfect” muslims who never make any mistakes in their Jihad, then you will be looking in vain! If the Zionists and the Crusaders had never invaded and colonized the Islamic lands after WW1, then there would be no need for Jihad! Which is better, to sit around and do nothing, or to Jihad fisabeelallah!
Thompson’s YouTube favorites include several videos featuring the Islamic convert and activist Jamil Abdullah al-Amin, also known as H. Rap Brown, who is now serving a life sentence for shooting two sheriff’s deputies in 2000.
Video of Thompson approaching the officers, and of the aftermath of his assault, has been posted online:
Yair Rosenberg is a senior writer at Tablet. Subscribe to his newsletter, listen to his music, and follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
