US teen inspired by Isis pleads guilty to attempted murder of police officer

US teen inspired by Isis pleads guilty to attempted murder of police officer


A 17-year-old in the US who expressed interest in joining the Islamic State (Isis) has pleaded guilty to trying to kill one New Jersey police officer and attacking backup police with a knife.

Fasihullah Safar, of Alexandria, Virginia, would be sentenced as an adult on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and motor vehicle theft, Burlington County prosecutors said on Friday.

Safar was initially charged as a juvenile before the case against him was enhanced in September.

The charges stem from an incident on March 21 last year, when Safar repeatedly struck a Florence Township patrol car while the officer inside was responding to a collision, later learned to have been caused by the teen.

During the course of deliberately ramming the police car, the teen’s vehicle was rendered inoperable.

When backup officers arrived on the scene, Safar “charged towards them while aggressively swinging a knife”, prosecutors said. A tactical vest spared one police officer, who was stabbed in the chest multiple times from suffering more serious wounds.

Fasihullah Safar will be sentenced as an adult. Photo: Facebook/Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office
Fasihullah Safar will be sentenced as an adult. Photo: Facebook/Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office

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