2016 St. Cloud, Minnesota knife attack

Stabbing attack in Minnesota, U.S. May 2025 September 2016 Stcloudaerial.JPG Aerial view of St. Cloud 45 33 24.12 N 94 12 37.08 W center 16 300 220 40 45 33 24.12 N 94 12 37.08 W n-square 1 St. Cloud, Minnesota, US Civilians 45 33 24.12 N 94 12 37.08 W September 17, 2016 8:15 p.m. UTC-5 Mass stabbing 1 (the perpetrator) 10Voss Lee 10th Victim Emerges in St. Cloud Mall Attack http://wjon.com/10th-victim-emerges-in-st-cloud-mall-attack/ AM 1240 WJON Townsquare Media September 19, 2016 September 19, 2016 Dahir Ahmed Adan Two steak knives On September 17, 2016, Dahir Ahmed Adan, a 22-year-old, Kenyan-born American man, stabbed ten people while wielding two knives at the Crossroads Center shopping mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was shot dead inside the mall by an off-duty law enforcement officer who intervened. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the incident to uncover a possible motive, including terrorism. Authorities said Adan may have been inspired by radical Islamic ideology, but they did not assign a motive for his actions. Attack At about 8:15 p.m. on September 17, an individual began stabbing patrons at the Crossroads Center shopping mall.http://bnonews.com/news/index.php/news/id5142 Stabbing spree at Crossroads Center mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota BNO News September 17, 2016 September 17, 2016 September 18, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160918233150/http://bnonews.com/news/index.php/news/id5142 dead He was armed with two steak knives, one 10 inches and the other 9 inches. The stabbings first began outside the mall, at a nutrition store, before the attacker entered the building, stabbed an electronics store employee, and ran past a couple of other stores towards the Target and Macy's anchor stores.https://www.scribd.com/document/326680623/Stearns-County-Attorney-s-Letter-on-Justified-Use-of-Deadly-Force-by-Off-Duty-Officer#from_embed Stearns County Attorney's Letter on Justified Use of Deadly Force by Off-Duty Officer Scribd Stearns County Attorney's Office October 6, 2016 October 31, 2016 Janelle P. Kendall Before the spree ended, ten people were injured, three of whom were hospitalized with non-life-threatening wounds.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minnesota-mall-stabbings-idUSKCN11O04S Islamic State says Minnesota mall stabbing carried out by 'soldier' Reuters September 18, 2016 September 18, 2016 Dustin Volz Alex Dobuzinskis Reports said the attacker made references to Allah, including shouting "Allahu Akbar," and asked several people if they were Muslim.Narayan Chandrika Visser Steve ISIS wing claims responsibility for Minnesota mall attack http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/18/us/minnesota-mall-stabbing/ September 18, 2016 CNN September 18, 2016Minnesota mall attacker referenced Allah before stabbing rampage, police chief says https://www.foxnews.com/us/minnesota-mall-attacker-referenced-allah-before-stabbing-rampage-police-chief-says/ September 18, 2016 Fox News September 18, 2016October 7, 2016 FBI Investigator: Evidence that St. Cloud Mall Attack was Premeditated http://kstp.com/news/officials-update-on-crossroads-center-mall-stabbing-attack-investigation/4283688/ https://web.archive.org/web/20161007194420/http://kstp.com/news/officials-update-on-crossroads-center-mall-stabbing-attack-investigation/4283688/ 7 October 2016 October 31, 2016 KTSP Immediately following the stabbings, the attacker was confronted by Jason Falconer, a firearms instructor and part-time police officer from nearby Avon, Minnesota.http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/09/17/reports-several-hurt-crossroads-center-incident/90607870/ Police: Suspect dead after Crossroads stabbing St. Cloud Times September 17, 2016 September 17, 2016http://wjon.com/breaking-police-cordon-off-crossroads-shopping-center-after-apparent-shooting/ UPDATE: St. Cloud Mall Attacker Referenced 'Allah' Before Stabbing Spree, Police Chief Says [VIDEO, PHOTOS] WJON News September 17, 2016 September 17, 2016Officer, suspect ID'd in Crossroads stabbings http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/09/17/reports-several-hurt-crossroads-center-incident/90607870/ 18 September 2016 St. Cloud Times 18 September 2016http://www.startribune.com/off-duty-officer-kills-man-who-stabbed-8-at-crossroads-mall-in-st-cloud/393850931/ Off-duty officer kills man who stabbed 8 at St. Cloud mall Minneapolis Star Tribune September 17, 2016 September 17, 2016 David Chanenhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/police-respond-report-shooting-stabbing-mall-024409524.html 8 people taken to a hospital after Minnesota mall stabbings Yahoo! News Associated Press September 17, 2016 September 17, 2016 September 19, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160919163424/https://www.yahoo.com/news/police-respond-report-shooting-stabbing-mall-024409524.html dead When the attacker asked Falconer if he was a Muslim and Falconer answered no, he fled into the Macy's store, pursued by Falconer, who ordered him to drop his weapons. The attacker ran into the clothing display area, turned towards Falconer, and lay down on the floor while still holding both knives. He then charged at Falconer, who fired multiple rounds and shot him, and both fell down briefly in the main aisle. The attacker got up and charged at Falconer again, but he was shot again and fatally wounded. Victims Ten people were injured in the stabbing, three of whom were hospitalized for non-life-threatening wounds. They were all stabbed or punched in the back, shoulder, head, neck, or face. The hospitalized victims were all released by the next day.https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/23/st-cloud-mall-stabbing-update After a week, more questions, few answers in St. Cloud mall attack MPR News September 23, 2016 September 30, 2016 Peter Cox Jon Collins The victims were of ages 15 to 53. Perpetrator Dahir Ahmed Adan ( 1994 – September 17, 2016) was a member of St. Cloud's Somali-American community.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-minnesota-mall-stabbing-20160918-story.html FBI investigating mass stabbing that injured 9 at Minnesota mall as terrorism Chicago Tribune September 18, 2016 September 18, 2016 He was born in Kenya and moved to the U.S. at the age of twoGuerra Kristine Officials are investigating Minnesota mall stabbing as potential act of terrorism https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/09/18/man-shot-dead-after-stabbing-8-people-in-a-minnesota-mall/?hpid=hp_no-name_hp-in-the-news%3Apage%2Fin-the-news September 19, 2016 Washington Post September 18, 2016Minnesota stabbings probed as 'potential' act of terror: FBI https://theworld.org/stories/2016/09/18/minnesota-mall-attack-linked-isis-so-far-no-such-link-new-york-explosion September 18, 2016 Agence France Presse September 18, 2016Paul Walsh Beatrice Dupuy Brandon Stahl Family ID's attacker behind 'potential act of terrorism' in St. Cloud http://www.startribune.com/st-cloud-mall-closed-until-monday-is-crime-scene-after-stabbings/393872071/#1 September 18, 2016 Minnesota Star Tribune September 18, 2016Jeff Baenen Amy Forliti FBI investigates Minnesota stabbings as possible terror act http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MALL_ST_CLOUD_MINNESOTA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-18-18-08-09 September 18, 2016 Associated Press September 18, 2016 September 19, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160919141729/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MALL_ST_CLOUD_MINNESOTA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-18-18-08-09 dead on a refugee visa, becoming a U.S. citizen in 2008.http://www.people.com/article/dahir-adan-suspect-minnesota-mall-stabbings Mall Stabbing Suspect Asked Victims If They Were Muslim, 'Not Previously Known' to Authorities: Source People September 19, 2016 October 22, 2016 Stephanie Petithttps://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/296638-cruz-calls-for-refugee-crackdown-after-attacks/ Cruz calls for refugee crackdown after attacks The Hill September 19, 2016 October 22, 2016 Jordain Carney Adan was described by a community spokesman as having no record of violence, and as a good student who was more interested in sports than religion. He attended Apollo High School and was last enrolled in the St. Cloud State University in the spring of 2016, where he planned to major in information systems.http://www.startribune.com/dahir-adan-what-we-know/394013681/ Dahir Adan: What we know Minnesota Star-Tribune September 22, 2016 September 29, 2016 He had three previous encounters with police for minor traffic violations. His friends described him as a Muslim, but they did not believe he had extremist views. On October 6, 2016, the FBI announced that the evidence suggests the attack was premeditated and that the attacker had taken "interest recently in Islam, withdrew from his friends and encouraged his sisters to be more religious."FBI Investigator: Evidence that St. Cloud Mall Attack was Premeditated ABC 5 - Eyewitness News KSTP http://kstp.com/news/officials-update-on-crossroads-center-mall-stabbing-attack-investigation/4283688/ 28 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161007194420/http://kstp.com/news/officials-update-on-crossroads-center-mall-stabbing-attack-investigation/4283688/ 7 October 2016 Thornton said evidence uncovered by investigators suggests the attack was premeditated and that Adan may have become recently radicalized. Thornton said Adan took interest recently in Islam, withdrew from his friends and encouraged his sisters to be more religious. Adan had been employed part-time by the Swiss security services provider Securitas; he had been assigned to guard an unidentified Electrolux facility.Marohn Kirsti Police chief: No link found yet between ISIS, attacker http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/09/19/obama-calls-dayton-regarding-st-cloud-attack/90688088/ September 19, 2016 St. Cloud Times September 19, 2016 He resigned in June 2016Associated Press Minnesota stabbing: Dahir Ahmed Adam was known for calm demeanor https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/20/minnesota-stabbing-dahir-ahmed-adan-college-security-guard The Guardian September 21, 2016 September 20, 2016 A statement from Securitas said he resigned from the company in June. and handed over his official uniform back to the company. A mall spokesperson said Adan never worked security at the mall, nor was he an employee of the company that did its security. Two nights prior to the stabbing, Adan called a Somali community soccer coach asking for advice on how to lose weight; the coach later said that he believed Adan was not suffering from any mental illness at the time. According to a Somali-American community leader, Adan had saved up money to purchase the newly released iPhone 7 and was going to Crossroads Center to make the purchase. He was described as "joyful" and "happy" before leaving for the mall.http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/19/us/minnesota-mall-stabbing/ Stabbing suspect had gone to mall to buy an iPhone, source says CNN September 19, 2016 September 19, 2016 Joe Sterling Max Blau Rosa Flores An autopsy performed on Adan following his death found that he died of exsanguination (blood loss) as a result of the six gunshot wounds he had sustained. He had been shot in the head, chest, side, back, and left leg. Aftermath The day after the stabbing, St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson declined to call the attack terrorism, saying that it did not appear anyone else was involved in the incident. The FBI started investigating the attack as a "potential" act of terrorism, and the agency's Joint Terrorism Task Force took the lead in the investigation, assisted by local police.Sepic Matt September 20, 2016 http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/20/federal-officials-to-lead-st-cloud-mall-stabbing-investigation FBI takes lead on St. Cloud mall stabbing investigation Minnesota Public Radio News September 20, 2016 The FBI began looking into Adan's social media and other contacts to find a motive. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq media agency,https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minnesota-mall-stabbings-islamic-stat-idUSKCN11O0MF Islamic State supporter behind Minnesota stabbings: Amaq September 18, 2016 Reuters September 18, 2016 Omar Fahmy Lin Noueihed claiming Adan "was a soldier of the Islamic State".Walsh Paul ISIL says St. Cloud stabbing suspect a 'soldier of the Islamic State' http://www.startribune.com/st-cloud-mall-closed-until-monday-is-crime-scene-after-stabbings/393872071/#1 September 18, 2016 Minnesota Star Tribune September 18, 2016 The executor of the stabbing attacks in Minnesota yesterday was a soldier of the Islamic State and carried out the operation in response to the citizens of countries belonging to the crusader coalition... On September 28, in the midst of the preliminary investigation, FBI Director James Comey said Adan may have been motivated by "some sort of inspiration from radical Islamic groups."FBI head: Extremism apparent influence in St. Cloud mall attack https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/28/fbi-head-extremism-apparent-influence-in-st-cloud-mall-attack September 28, 2016 September 28, 2016 Minnesota Public Radio Associated Press Comey responded that the FBI is "still working on it," but that it looks like Dahir Ahmed Adan, 20, appears to have been motivated "by some sort of inspiration from radical Islamic groups." In February 2017, Rick Thornton––the head of the FBI in Minneapolis––told the Associated Press that they were still investigating the attack, but that it was unlikely they could figure out Adan's motives and thought process.Forliti Amy https://apnews.com/75fd0263c2d14b7181cace45f63798f6/Thornton:-FBI-still-investigating-Minnesota-mall-stabbing Thornton: FBI still investigating Minnesota mall stabbing Associated Press February 17, 2017 July 18, 2017 In August 2017, St. Cloud Police Chief William Blair Anderson said, "The attack inspired a successful bid to the city for additional funds for training", and he praised Falconer's reaction to the attacker.Montemayor Stephen September 17, 2017 One year later, motive of St. Cloud mall attacker remains unclear Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/one-year-later-motive-of-st-cloud-mall-attacker-remains-unclear/444894453/ 19 September 2017 Anderson also recognized Jason Falconer, the off-duty officer who shot Adan as he continued to advance on Falconer with the pair of knives. Falconer fired 10 shots, Anderson said, striking Adan six times before he died from his injuries. The attack inspired a successful bid to the city for additional funds for training, Anderson said On April 5, 2018, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Representative Tom Emmer awarded Falconer the Congressional Badge of Bravery.April 5, 2018 Officer Who Stopped Minnesota Mall Stabbing Hailed as Hero WDIO AP https://www.wdio.com/news/minnesota-officer-who-shot-mall-attacker-to-receive-bravery-award/4852879/ May 2, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180404225113/https://www.wdio.com/news/minnesota-officer-who-shot-mall-attacker-to-receive-bravery-award/4852879/ 4 April 2018 Reactions Leaders of Minnesota's Muslim community held a joint news conference in St. Cloud the day after the stabbings. They expressed concern at the rise of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment in response to the attack, calling for unity among the general community.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/18/minnesota-stabbing-somali-americans-suspect-name Minnesota's Somali leaders condemn stabbing as report identifies suspect September 18, 2016 The Guardian September 18, 2016 Jared Goyettehttp://bigstory.ap.org/article/33f24701fb354224bef841261bc7a27d/latest-claims-responsibility-minnesota-attack Latest: Officer who stopped mall stabbing deflects praise Associated Press September 18, 2016 September 18, 2016 September 19, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160919074212/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/33f24701fb354224bef841261bc7a27d/latest-claims-responsibility-minnesota-attack dead See also List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Jihadist extremism in the United States List of Islamist terrorist attacks References 30em Category:2016 in Minnesota Minnesota mall Category:Crimes in Minnesota Category:Filmed killings by law enforcement in the United States Category:Islamic terrorism in the United States Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2016 Category:September 2016 crimes in the United States Category:Mass stabbings in the United States Category:Attacks on shopping malls in the United States Category:Somali-American history Minnesota mall Category:St. Cloud, Minnesota Category:Terrorist incidents in Minnesota Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 2016 Category:Terrorist incidents involving knife attacks in the United States