‘IS-supporting Philadelphia gunman may have ties to extremist group targeting

While Archer may have pledged his allegiance to Islam, city officials were quick to say the attack was not related to the teachings of the religion and that Archer is just a criminal.

“If that doesn’t just make the hairs on your neck just rise when you see that, it’s scary”, Ross told reporters. The man, using a gun stolen from police, said he was acting in the name of Islam when he allegedly ambushed Hartnett sitting in his marked cruiser at an intersection, firing shots at point-blank range, authorities said. Hartnett, who is now in the hospital in stable condition, was able to return fire and injure his attacker.

In New York City, where two police officers were shot dead in their patrol auto in a December 2014 attack by a man angry over police killings of unarmed black men, the police department issued a memorandum urging officers to “exercise heightened vigilance and implement proactive measures” in light of the Philadelphia shooting. “More combative”, said Jannah Abdulsalaam, who asked only to be identified by her Muslim name.

Police continued to investigate the anonymous tip on Sunday and said they planned to re-interview the tipster.

As soon as the officer felt the man’s hand on his gun, he spun around, stopping the man from getting the gun out of the holster, according to police.

Neighbor Natalie King, 68, a retired public worker, said she had seen the man she knew as “Eddie” going to the mosque every Friday.

Archer fled the scene, police said, prompting Hartnett to get out of the auto and shoot, hitting Archer in the buttocks.

“His will to live undoubtedly saved his life”, Ross said.

Archer was arraigned on Saturday on charges including attempted murder and making terrorist threats.

While Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney made it known that Archer’s actions “had nothing to do with being a Muslim, or following the Muslim faith”, new information from Representative Mike McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, indicates otherwise. “The police officer had no idea he was coming”.

“The message is clear: Kill military, attack military installations and kill police officers”. Police Department image released on January 8, 2016.

“Shots fired! I’m shot!”

They said he began expressing interest in Islam as a teenager, played in a local Muslim football league and worked on construction jobs. “He’s a tough guy”, he said.Hartnett served in the Coast Guard and has been on the Philadelphia force for four years. They are investigating the goal of those trips, Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Eric Ruona said. He said Archer had attended the West Philadelphia mosque, known as Masjid Mujahideen, for at least five years.

At yesterday’s news conference, Kenney said the shooting showed the sacrifices officers make and highlighted Philadelphia’s problem of gun violence.