Yesterday afternoon, 32-year-old Zale Thompson charged four NYPD officers with a hatchet as they were posing for a freelance photographer in Queens, New York. According to witnesses, he approached the officers silently, from behind, taking them by surprise. One officer was struck in the right arm, and another in the side of the head. The other two officers fired their weapons, killing Thompson and wounding a female bystander in the lower back. The officer that was struck in the head is currently in critical but stable condition, and the officer with the arm wound is expected to be released today.
Thompson is a recent Islamic convert, who made extremist comments on social media. Last month, a YouTube account holder, believed to be Thompson, left a message promoting jihad on a pro-Islamic State video. He also has a criminal record in California and was discharged from the Navy for “misconduct.” He most recently resided in both Brooklyn and Queens, where neighbors reported frequent fighting with his mother and girlfriend as well as odd behavior. It is unclear whether Thompson had any formal affiliation with 
the Islamic State or other terrorist organizations.
MSA's Research and Intelligence Analysis (RIA) Group has been monitoring this situation closely and has identified the following implications:
Given the incident is still under investigation, there is no confirmation on Thompson’s motive; however, there are several considerations as to why this event may be terror-related. First, it is consistent with recent messaging from the Islamic State calling for lone-wolf actors to target “soldiers, patrons and troops…police, security and intelligence members” in coalition member countries participating in the U.S.-led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. A document also posted on Islamic State-affiliated web forums listed potential targets for lone-wolf operations, including “military, law enforcement, FBI personnel, government officials and media figures.” Additionally, in their most recent issue of their English-language magazine, Dabiq, the Islamic State specifically called on supporters to carry out attacks in the U.S., UK, France, Australia and Germany, and encouraged targeting citizens of all “crusader nations” worldwide. The group’s propaganda is intended to inspire both “at risk” and radicalized individuals to carry out attacks in the name of jihad, even sympathizers not directly connected to the group.
The attack in New York City also coincides with this week’s lone-wolf attacks in Canada, which targeted military, government and security personnel. In many cases the notoriety or success of an attack may serve as motivation for others in the near term. Furthermore, the tradecraft used to carry out the attack is consistent with other incidents targeting uniformed officers and military personnel.
In May 2013, British soldier Lee Rigby was murdered near the Royal Artillery Barracks in London while walking through the area in his uniform. Rigby was first struck with a vehicle then hacked to death with a knife and meat cleaver by two British Islamic extremists of Nigerian descent. Following the attack, they dragged his body into the street and shouted “Allahu Akbar.” The suspects encouraged passersby to film the attack and announced that it was carried out in retaliation for Muslim deaths in Iraq and Syria. The case in London is similar as the attackers used edged weapons to target a uniformed officer. The attack later received praise in al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) English-language magazine, Inspire. In the past, Inspire has been successful in providing guidance and instructions used for executed attacks such as the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
As the U.S. and its allies become further embroiled in the fight against the Islamic State, there is a greater threat of attacks in the homeland. The most effective way to prevent this type of attack is the implementation of a comprehensive, layered security approach, coupled with increased situational awareness and heightened vigilance.
(Image Credit: AFP, Inspire Magazine)
