The FBI is looking into a stabbing in Virginia because the attacker might have been attempting to behead his victim in an ISIS-inspired attack.
ABC News reported that federal authorities were aware of the alleged attacker, Wasil Forooqui, 20. He has traveled to Turkey and may have tried to sneak into Syria, where ISIS is recruiting, the report said.
Farooqui was arrested after allegedly attacking a man and woman in Roanoke on Saturday. He was jailed on two counts of assault with malicious wounding, and is being held without bail.
Authorities believe the victims were likely to have been chosen at random, ABC News said.
Roanoke County police told TV station
WSLS that the man yelled “Allah Akbar” as he attacked.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Adam Lee said, "While I cannot discuss the details of the investigation at this time, I do want to reassure the community that we are working to determine the nature of the incident."
The WSLS report said that the male victim was able to fight off the attacker, who then left the scene. While officers were at the hospital with the victims, a man identified as Farooqui came into the hospital suffering from injuries of his own.
Police said Farooqui met the description the victims gave and was arrested.
The
New York Daily News reported that the man and woman were severely injured, but are "recovering well."
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