An official at the Boston Police Department told the Boston Globe that the terror suspect fatally shot Tuesday morning by BPD officers after waving a knife intended to behead a law enforcement official.
“We believe the intent was to behead a police officer. We knew the plot had to be stopped. They were planning to take action Tuesday,” the official told the Globe.
The incident occurred at 6:59 a.m. in Roslindale. Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, 26, was under surveillance by anti-terrorism authorities, said FBI Special-Agent In-Charge Vincent B Lisi.
“We believe he was a threat… we had been watching him for quite some time,” said Boston Police Commissioner William B Evans. A spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office said in a press conference that David Wright, of Everett, Mass., has been arrested in connection with the threats, and will appear in court Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Lisi added that he is not concerned about public safety in light of the attack. Details of Wright’s arrest and contribution to the shooting will be released during the hearing this afternoon.
According to a BPD press release, Rahim was discovered during regular surveillance sweeps, and the officers on the scene ran a threshold inquiry. As officers approached, Rahim pulled out a large knife and waved it at the officers in a threatening manner. The officers dropped back and told Rahim to put the knife down and desist, but were forced to fire after he failed to follow the verbal commands and presented himself as a threat.
Evans, in a statement, supported his officers, saying “one of the most difficult decisions a law enforcement official has to make is the decision to use deadly force. In this case it appears the decision to do so was justified.”