Zale Thompson - Dr. Rich Swier

The question of what is or is not terrorism is one giant distraction that takes up far too much time. The real question that matters is, was this a jihad attack, motivated by the Islamic jihad doctrine that is held and taught by mainstream Islamic authorities. But this is an important step nonetheless — much better than calling this jihad attack “workplace violence” or dismissing Zale Thompson as mentally ill and letting the whole thing go at that. And of course in this and many other contexts, to call it a terror attack is tantamount to admitting that it was a jihad attack, for jihad is the great enemy of freedom and of the United States that cannot and must not be named, on pain of charges of “racism” and “Islamophobia.”

“NYC police commissioner: Hatchet attack was terror,” by Tom Hays, Associated Press, October 24, 2014:

NEW YORK — New York City police Commissioner William Bratton says the hatchet attack on four rookie officers was a terrorist act by a homegrown radical.

Bratton said Friday the suspect, Zale Thompson, was a Muslim convert who ranted online against America, but had no clear ties to international terrorism. He believes Thompson was self-radicalized.

Thompson was killed by police. One officer is hospitalized with a head wound.

Bratton says investigators are trying to determine whether the attack was planned.

Police are examining Thompson’s computer for clues. Bratton says investigators found that Thompson browsed for organized terror groups, as well as beheadings and the shooting in Canada earlier this week.

Authorities also are trying to determine if Thompson had any history of mental illness. But Bratton says he is comfortable calling it a “terrorist attack.”

RELATED ARTICLES:

FBI warns media: Journalists “desirable targets” for the Islamic State

America’s “moderate Syrian rebels” are all Islamic jihadis, says Saudi intelligence

Ottawa jihad gunman Zehaf-Bibeau taught others about Islam, had passport seized by Canadian government

Ottawa shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau and hit-and-run jihadi Ahmad Rouleau influenced by UK jihadist Anjem Choudary

Canadian police say Ottawa shooter Zehaf-Bibeau’s actions were “linked to his radicalization”

CNN’s Ben Brumfield reports,

A bloodied steel hatchet lay on a rainy Queens sidewalk on Thursday like an portentous question mark. Was the bearded man who used it to wound two New York City police officers motivated by radical Islam?

Zale H. Thompson can no longer answer that question. He is dead, stopped by bullets from the guns of two other officers.

His unprovoked attack on four policemen, which injured one critically in the head and sliced the other in the shoulder, was certain suicide.

A chain of attacks and plots in rapid succession in the Western world by assailants with a radical interpretation of Islam have raised suspicion that Thompson’s attack could be the latest link.

[ … ]

On a Facebook page bearing Thompson’s name, a warrior masked in a head and face scarf and armed with spear, sword and rifle gazes out at the beholder. The vintage black and white photo is the profile picture of the user, who lives in Queens.

For a larger view click on the image.

A Quran quote in classic Arabic calligraphy mentioning judgment against those who have wandered astray serves as the page’s banner.

[ … ]

Thompson’s attack is the third on people in uniform in North America in a week.

ISIS, the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, has recently called to sympathizers in the West to carry out attacks against men and women in uniform.