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OHIO STATE ATTACK: Suspect posted to Facebook before attack

UPDATE @6:20 a.m.

Investigators are examining Abdul Razak Ali Artan’s Facebook page to determine whether the attack was terrorism, though law enforcement officials said it will take time to ascertain motive.

In a Facebook post shortly before the Monday morning rampage, the Somali immigrant urged America “to stop interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim Ummah,” a term for Muslim people at large.

“By Allah, we will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims. You will not celebrate or enjoy any holiday.”

FIRST REPORT

The Ohio State University attack suspect has been identified as Abdul Razak Ali Artan of Somalia. There are conflicting reports on his age, between 18-20.

Artan did an interview with OSU's campus newspaper, The Lantern, in August about his fear as a Muslim, of praying on campus.

In the interview with Lantern reporter Kevin Stankewicz, Artan said Muslims must pray five times a day, and before he came to OSU, he attended Columbus State where he was able to go in to private prayer rooms.

Artan described himself as a third year Logistics Management student in the article, who was interviewed on his first day on the OSU campus.

He told the reporter he was fearful of praying out in the open on such a large campus because of how the media portrayed Muslims.

On Monday morning, at approximately 9:50 a.m., Artan drove his Honda Civic alone, over a sidewalk near OSU's Watts Hall striking as many as 10 pedestrians, some OSU students, according to OSU's Public Safety Director, Monica Moll.

She went on to say that Artan then used a butcher knife to stab those pedestrians.

Approximately one minute later, OSU police officer Alan Horujko shot and killed Artan.

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