Philadelphia Police Investigating Possible Threat Against Officers After Ambush

Bleeding heavily, his arm limp, he struggled out of his auto and managed to run after Archer and fire back, wounding him. But then he stated that he pledges his allegiance to Islamic State, he follows Allah and that is the reason he was called upon to do this.

All department personnel have been notified and officers will work with a partner until further notice, police said in the statement.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said the suspect fired at least 11 shots from the stolen 9mm handgun at close range.

Hartnett, 33, and a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, is in stable condition in the hospital with bullet wounds to his left arm and will have to undergo numerous surgical procedures. Archer was treated and released into police custody. They also posted on Facebook that the FBI is investigating the tip as well.

The officer’s father, Robert Hartnett, said his son was in good spirits.

Officers across the city on Sunday said they were uneasy in light of the unprovoked attack on Hartnett and the new information given to officers in the same West Philadelphia neighborhood where the shooting happened.

Police officials said Friday that Archer, who was wearing a long-sleeved white tunic over dark trousers during the attack, confessed to the shooting and said he did it “in the name of Islam”.

Prosecutors on Saturday charged the man police say attempted to execute an officer Thursday night with attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and other charges. The event was captured on video and witnesses said the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” while approaching the police cruiser and firing off up to 13 rounds, three of which hit the officer. “We asked him to get medical help”.

Authorities believe Archer traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and to Egypt in 2012 and are investigating the goal of those trips.

Court records showed that prosecutors dropped the other charges against Archer, including the terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another person and conspiracy.

At the time of the Thursday attack, Archer was out on probation and scheduled to be sentenced Monday for careless driving, forgery and driving with a suspended or revoked license in a 2014 case. Police did not immediately specify the nature of those alleged beliefs.

Police describe the offender as a 40-year old Black man. Philadelphia Police are now say his mugshot and identity is now being processed.

“This is a criminal with a stolen gun who tried to kill one of our officers”, he said.

Jacob Bender, executive director of the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Archer’s actions did not represent those of Muslims or the Islamic faith.