Quoted: Quoted: (03/03/06 -- CHAPEL HILL) - The driver of an SUV that plowed into a group of pedestrians at UNC-Chapel Hill on Friday told police it was retribution for the treatment of Muslims around the world, according to ABC News.
It happened around noon Friday in front of Lenoir Hall on the campus, in a common area known as the Pit. Paramedics took six people to UNC Hospitals. Five had been released by Friday evening and the sixth was not expected to be admitted.
Officials say none of the people were seriously injured. Three refused treatment at the scene.
Chopper 11 shows the accident scene near The Pit at UNC-CH. Chapel Hill police say they arrested the suspect, Mohammed Reva Taheriazar, 23, of Chapel Hill, shortly after the incident. Several witnesses were able to give police the rented Jeep Cherokee's license plate number. Police said they would charge Taheriazar, a psychology major who graduated from UNC last semester, with several counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
Link to terrorism? Sources say Taheriazar told police he was seeking retribution for the treatment of Muslims around the world, according to ABC News justice correspondent Pierre Thomas. Taheriazar apparently told police he tried to rent the biggest SUV he could find to use in the attack.
By Friday afternoon, a police SWAT team had surrounded a Carrboro apartment complex where Taheriazar reportedly lived.
Authorities released few details about the activity at the University Commons apartments. Video from Chopper 11 showed officers surrounding the building with their guns drawn. Bomb squad members protective could be seen entering the apartment Friday evening.
There was no indication that Taheriazar is connected with larger terror groups. Thomas said his sources said Taheriazar may have been the sole actor in the attack.
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Well, six minor injuries and a terrorist is in custody. Maybe they'll be able to roll up more because of this. They tend to flock together, it looks like. All in all, seems like a win for our side if only due to luck and his incompetence. And, hey, maybe he even made a liberal or two see the light.
In other news, about a week ago here, a drunken frat boy plowed through two Arab graduate students on his way home from the bars, killing both of them, and then sped away. So far, he's gotten away clean. Good old American "roll up your sleeves and get the job done" work ethic, for comparison.
I know, it isn't comparable and tragic and those two Arabs were probably innocent and only students. But at this point, after all the attacks and the cartoon crap and now this, my "give a damn meter" is busted. In short, Drunken Frat Boy Wins, Terrorist Loses.