No terror suspicion after knife incident in Bellinzona
The Office of the Attorney General sees no terrorist background to a threat made with a blade in a Ticino shop. The suspected perpetrator is receiving psychiatric care.
No terror suspicion after knife incident in Bellinzona
In January of last year, a woman allegedly threatened employees with a blade in a shop in Bellinzona while shouting religious slogans. The investigating authorities see no terrorist act in this. According to a report by SRF, the accused had no contact with Islamist organisations and was not close to such organisations.
The woman is currently receiving outpatient psychiatric assistance and lives in a supervised residential community, according to further media reports. The cry "Allahu Akbar" is understood in Islamic faith as praise of God, but in certain contexts can also serve as a battle cry.
The incident in the Ticino cantonal capital shows parallels to a more recent case in Winterthur. There, a man injured three passengers at the railway station with a stabbing weapon. Witnesses reported that the perpetrator had likewise shouted religious phrases. In contrast to the Bellinzona case, the Zurich security directorate classified this attack as terrorist. Research by the broadcaster shows that the Winterthur perpetrator was inclined towards jihadism.
Source: SRF