FLINT, Mich. – The man accused of stabbing an officer on Wednesday at the Bishop International Airport in Flint tried to buy a gun in Mt. Clemens days before the attack, officials said.
Amor Ftouhi is charged with using a knife to stab an airport officer in neck, but law enforcement officials said he tried to purchase a gun. He was reportedly denied one, because he's not a United States citizen.
FBI agents said Ftouhi stabbed Lt. Jeff Neville on the second floor of the airport while referencing killings in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. They also said he yelled, "Allahu Akbar."
The criminal complaint against Ftouhi claims he yelled "Allah" several times after the stabbing.
"He made a statement something to the effect of, 'You've killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan,' and we are all going to die," Detroit Special Agent in Charge David Gelios said.
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Officers and a maintenance worker who witnessed the attack subdued Ftouhi, who asked why they didn't kill him.
"Lt. Neville never stopped fighting until I handcuffed this person, along with Lt. Neville, Lt. Dan Owens and maintenance person, Richard Cruell," said Chief Chris Miller, of the Bishop International Airport Public Safety Department. "The four of us were able to subdue this person, get him handcuffed and get him under control."
Gelios said there's no indication that Ftouhi had a conversation with Neville or contact with anyone inside the airport.
Ftouhi used a 12-inch knife with a green handle and a black 8-inch serrated blade, officials said. It was marked Amazon Jungle Survival Knife, officials said.
Ftouhi is charged with committing an act of violence at an international airport, FBI agents said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The Montreal native entered the United States legally on June 16 in New York. It's unclear why Ftouhi traveled nearly 500 miles to carry out the attack at the Flint airport.