Muslim Man Attempts to Kill UNC Pedestrians to Seek "Retribution for Muslims"

Mohammed Reza Taheriazar

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill police are investigating an incident that occurred shortly before noon today in which a Jeep, driven by an native of Iran who was acting out of revenge against non-Muslims, drove through the common area known on campus as the Pit, injuring six people. The injured were taken to UNC Hospitals. None of the victims appeared to be seriously injured.

Campus police said they had a suspect in custody. He was identified as Mohammed Reza Taheriazar, 23, a UNC student as recently as fall 2005. Police said they would charge the suspect with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

New information from the scene indicates that Taheriazar told police he was "seeking retribution for the treatment of Muslims around the world." The vehicle used in the attack was rented earlier in the day, according to police. Taheriazar reportedlytold police he tried to rent "the biggest SUV he could find" to use in the attack. As he was taken into custody, a police SWAT team surrounded a Carrboro apartment complex where Taheriazar reportedly lived, based on information collected at the scene.

Doug Hagmann from the Northeast Intelligence Network joined me with details this morning on the PC Show.