Terrorism suspected in Philadelphia car-ramming attempt

Police are investigating a car-ramming incident in Philadelphia as an apparent terror attack. 

By: World Israel News Staff and AP

Philadelphia police are investigating an incident of a man who on Monday tried to run down pedestrians and was shot dead by a policeman as a possible act of terrorism.

Philadelphia’s police commissioner said there are unanswered questions about the fatal shooting by an off-duty officer of a driver who apparently tried to run someone down.

Commissioner Richard Ross said surveillance video shows “a violent struggle” between the officer and the driver who apparently tried to hit a person who had just gotten out of a car in south Philadelphia and then apparently aimed for others before being stopped.

The man then chased another driver, charged at the officer who fired a warning shot in the air and then at the assailant. He died at a hospital.

Ross said he has questions about some of the shots fired.

The person struck was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

A police spokesman confirmed that terror was being considered as motivation, the UK’s Daily Express reported.

“Anytime someone is trying to run people over we got to look at that angle and see what the investigation leads us,” he said.

“Police were alerted … to a reckless driver driving southbound on Broad Street towards Bigler. This driver was apparently attempting to run people over,” he added.