The FBI releases new information about Faisal Mohammad – the 18 year old who attacked U.C. Merced students, last year.
Every indication is that Mohammad acted on his own.
In November of 2015, Mohammad had entered a classroom where he stabbed a fellow student.
He proceeded to attack three other people as he fled the classroom and moved across the campus.
Mohammad was shot and killed by a UC Merced police officer at the scene.
At the time of the stabbings, Mohammad was carrying a backpack which contained a two-page, hand-written plan detailing his intentions to include taking hostages and killing students and police officers.
Investigators also found a photocopy of an ISIL flag and a list of items he thought he would need for an attack such as zip ties, glass breaker, and a knife among his belongings.
The FBI saying that Mohammad had no ties to terrorist organizations, but investigators developed information that he may have self-radicalized and drawn inspiration from terrorist propaganda.
The FBI immediately opened an investigation after the attack, conducting extensive interviews and thoroughly examining Mohammad’s electronic media.
The FBI uncovered information that indicated Mohammad began his preparations for the attack at least one week prior to the assault.
During this investigation no information has been developed that Mohammad was working with, or directed by, anyone in conducting this attack.
Mohammad had been visiting extremist websites.
His laptop contained pro-ISIL propaganda, and he had visited ISIL and other extremist websites in the weeks prior to his attack.
“Investigators found a print out of an image of an Islamic state flag in his possessions.” – Michelle Morgante, Merced Sun Star Managing Editor.
Every indication is that Mohammad acted on his own; however, the FBI finds that it may never be possible to definitively determine why he chose to attack people on the UC Merced campus
