UNC Muslim Student Attacks Crowd with SUV - The Orange Mane

epicSocialism4tw · 03-11-2006, 11:17 AM

6 hurt as driver plows into students
Local, state and federal agencies investigate. A complex is evacuated while the suspect's apartment is searched

A man who drove a Jeep Cherokee Laredo into a lunchtime crowd on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus Friday, striking nine people, may have been protesting Americans' treatment of Muslims.
Six people had been released from UNC Hospitals by Friday evening. None was seriously injured, university officials said. The three others declined to be treated.

According to the Associated Press, suspect Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, 22, a native of Iran, "allegedly made statements that he acted to avenge the American treatment of Muslims," FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko said. "The ongoing investigation will work to confirm this."

Witnesses saw the sport utility vehicle approach The Pit, the student hub outside the Student Union, at 11:53 a.m. The driver accelerated along the edge of the sunken plaza, before speeding away.

UNC-CH police said they would charge Taheri-azar, of 303 Smith Level Road, Apt. D34, Carrboro, with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill.

About 30 minutes after the incident, Carrboro police began evacuating the University Commons apartment complex where the 2005 UNC-CH graduate lives with two roommates.

"He made comments and said things regarding where he lives and things he may have that put us in concern for safety," Capt. Joel Booker of the Carrboro Police Department said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Bureau of Investigation and other local emergency agencies, including a bomb squad, joined police at the apartment complex at Smith Level and BPW Club roads.

Niralee Shah, a senior at UNC-CH, had just woke up from a nap when a man in a helmet and vest with a large gun banged on her door. When she opened it, Shah said, he grabbed her by the arm and said she had to leave.

Shah quickly grabbed her shoes and coat and joined other residents outside the building.

From about 100 feet away, Shah watched with others as police aimed guns at a third-floor apartment in Building D while they crouched behind a car they used as a barricade.

Students were allowed back into the complex about 8:30 p.m., even as police continued searching Taheri-azar's apartment.

"At this point we do not feel there is any more concern for public safety," Booker said. "No bomb, nothing like that."

Dual-major graduate

Taheri-azar was not part of the UNC-CH Muslim Students Association, and a student who participated in a recent sit-in at The Daily Tar Heel office protesting the newspaper's publishing of a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed said Taheri-azar was not part of the protest.

"We absolutely condemn any kind of violence," said freshman Salma Mirza 18. "I hope those were not his motivations.

"Islam is a religion of peace," she added. The majority of Muslims on campus condemn violence, she said.

Gordon Pitz, a psychology professor, taught Taheri-azar in two classes. "I just fell over," he said about hearing the news.

Taheri-azar stood out in Pitz's Decision Theory and Research Methods classes, but nothing would have predicted Friday's incident, the professor said.

"This is a class of about 200 people. Of those, probably about 150 I never get to know. Mohammed I did get to know," Pitz said.

"He was one of those students who was very assertive in asking questions," Pitz explained. "He obviously cared a lot about his performance. Even in the very large class I taught, he was very willing to ask questions and get involved in discussions."

Brad Copeland, 20, a sophomore journalism major, worked with Taheri-azar at Jimmy John's sandwich shop on West Franklin Street. He also took a philosophy class with him.

"He wasn't shy in class -- not shy to speak up," Copeland said. "It was clear that he read the material and understood it and seemed to be pretty smart."

Taheri-azar graduated in December, receiving a bachelor's degree with a dual major in psychology and philosophy.

Until December, he was living in Chapel Hill's Northampton Plaza Apartments at 600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

A Social Security number was issued to him in 1991. He registered to vote in Orange County in 2004.

In August 2003, Taheri-azar was convicted of unsafe movement after being charged with driving left of center and failing to obey a traffic officer in Orange County, according to police records.

A month later, he was convicted of reckless driving to endanger for speeding and reckless driving, also in Orange County.

His address both times was listed as 3125 English Sparrow Lane in Charlotte. Neighbors there say they knew the family as the Taheris and believe Taheri-azar lived with his mother and younger sister. The family has since moved away.

In July 1999, a Mohamed Dhahran Taheri of the same address was charged with reckless driving to endanger and driving without a license in Mecklenburg County.

'It was so surreal'

On Friday, students changing classes said they paid the silver SUV little notice until the driver revved the engine and sped around the corner of Lenoir Dining Hall.

"People started screaming and jumping out of the way," said Katherine Wallace, 22, of Cary who was sitting at a table in the area. "It was so surreal.

"I remember vividly that a girl just flew off the windshield and rolled off the side of the car," Wallace said. "Then, she just sat up from where she got hit."

The vehicle had an Enterprise Rental Car sticker on the back bumper. Police said a laptop was found in the vehicle. Shortly before 1 p.m., officers had the SUV released from a tow truck and moved bystanders away, citing safety concerns.

Friends identified two of the injured students as freshman Brittany Williams and sophomore Tiffany McDole. Williams was campaigning for the student group Black Student Movement when she was hit. McDole declined to comment Friday.

Sharee Posey, 18, a freshman, was sitting on a ledge next to Lenoir when she saw the SUV speed past her. Kamishia Thomas, also 18, said she felt the vehicle brush her as it passed.

"It all happened really fast," said Kristen Cabe, 19, a sophomore who was standing nearby.

"It had to be deliberate," said Caity Brown-Geist, 22, a senior from Guilford, Conn. "I'm pretty much in shock because it happened so fast. People didn't have time to get out of the way. It didn't seem like it was really happening."

"I'm about to graduate, and I've always felt safe here," Brown-Geist said. "It made me realize you're never really safe. Freak things happen all the time."

The injured students' parents have been contacted, and the university is providing counselors throughout the weekend in the student union building as well as at UNC Hospitals.

Staff writer Meiling Arounnarath can be reached at 932-2004 or meiling.arounnarath@newsobserver.com.

RMT · 03-11-2006, 11:20 AM

So much for "not profiling" people based on race or religion ... this kind of stuff is a reminder that in some cases, "profiling" can be justified ... notice, I said "some" not "all or most"

RhymesayersDU · 03-11-2006, 11:22 AM

Damn terrorists.

12th man · 03-11-2006, 11:25 AM

this guy is ****ing nuts.

watermock · 03-11-2006, 11:29 AM

Hang the bastard...not only that, he ran down women...****in coward. Where were the men to beat him to a pulp...oh right...he sped away in the name of Allah.

I'm sick and tired of the apologists. And even more sick and tired of idiots claiming that Islam is a religion of peace. Peace to fellow muslims isn't even true.

Noone seems to understand Death to the Infidels?

Popps · 03-11-2006, 11:29 AM

Seriously, like every 30 seconds... some Muslim around the globe is enacting violence on someone (usually innocent) to protest something or other.

But, it's not a violent religion... really.

No, really.

It's not.

sirhcyennek81 · 03-11-2006, 11:30 AM

Read once, that of all the terror groups in the world, half are Muslim-based.

watermock · 03-11-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

Read once, that of all the terror groups in the world, half are Muslim-based.

That's a very conservative estimate.

sirhcyennek81 · 03-11-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watermock

That's a very conservative estimate.

I dont want to be accused of racial profiling or stereotyping...

watermock · 03-11-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

I dont want to be accused of racial profiling or stereotyping...

I'll handle that chore...driving thru a group of girls. Good God. If I could of gotten some keys to a car and a gun I would capped that a-hole. The cops should of gunned him down point blank. Now we get to hear him whine in court. Disgusting.

GonzoLays · 03-11-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMT

So much for "not profiling" people based on race or religion ... this kind of stuff is a reminder that in some cases, "profiling" can be justified ... notice, I said "some" not "all or most"

Timothy McVeigh wasn't Arab and he is the most infamous domestic terrorist known in the US. What should we do about people like him? Racial profile thin white guys with military hightops?

sirhcyennek81 · 03-11-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

Timothy McVeigh wasn't Arab and he is the most infamous domestic terrorist known in the US. What should we do about people like him? Racial profile thin white guys with military hightops?

Interesting you select the one example of terrorism not perpetrated by muslims, and say see, whities do it too. It is not incorrect to assume its arabs or muslims who perpetrate terror, because it's them a majority of the time.

watermock · 03-11-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

Timothy McVeigh wasn't Arab and he is the most infamous domestic terrorist known in the US. What should we do about people like him? Racial profile thin white guys with military hightops?

There are alot of clouds surrounding the OK bombing. The only thing he really said was that it was retribution for Waco (a religious group). I'm not convinced whatsoever about that event. They sure got it torn down and got him expidited before he could really tell the truth. But this is totally off subject...your deflectiing reality.

We are discussing this clown running his SUV thru a group of girls and speeding off dimwit.

When roadside bombs go off every few hours, whatever. The OK bombing was messed up but it was a once in a lifetime event there.

jonny1 · 03-11-2006, 11:51 AM

The logic of this escapes me.

He doesn't like the way Muslims are portrayed or treated, so he tries to run down a bunch of innocent people to prove his point . . .

WTF

May have been a smart student, but I don't think he took debate.

GonzoLays · 03-11-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

Interesting you select the one example of terrorism not perpetrated by muslims, and say see, whities do it too. It is not incorrect to assume its arabs or muslims who perpetrate terror, because it's them a majority of the time.

What about the "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid? He wasn't Arab. Logic does not seem to have a place in this conversation. Its okay to paint a broad brush stroke of "yea we have to racial profile all these Arabs because they are all terrorists" yet you conveniently forget when people of other ethnicity's commit the same vile acts we all condemn. This is nothing but a practice of extreme ignorance and racism.

TheDave · 03-11-2006, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

What about the "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid? He wasn't Arab.

So, we are at what, 98.9% Arab now. I think its fair to look their way when discussing terrorism.

The day the Red headed Irish guys start going nuts here, i will volunteer to show up at the airports early for my "Screening"

Hercules Rockefeller · 03-11-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDave

So, we are at what, 98.9% Arab now.

Still about 99.5% Muslim though

GonzoLays · 03-11-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDave

So, we are at what, 98.9% Arab now. I think its fair to look their way when discussing terrorism.

The day the Red headed Irish guys start going nuts here, i will volunteer to show up at the airports early for my "Screening"

How many terrorists act have been in commited in the USA? 9/11 and The Oklahoma City bombing. Who perpertraded those acts? You do the math.

TheDave · 03-11-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hercules Rockefeller

Still about 99.5% Muslim though

my bad

GonzoLays · 03-11-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hercules Rockefeller

Still about 99.5% Muslim though

Yet another ignorant poster.

TheDave · 03-11-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

How many terrorists act have been in commited in the USA? 9/11 and The Oklahoma City bombing. Who perpertraded those acts? You do the math.

did you read the article?

watermock · 03-11-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

What about the "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid? He wasn't Arab. Logic does not seem to have a place in this conversation. Its okay to paint a broad brush stroke of "yea we have to racial profile all these Arabs because they are all terrorists" yet you conveniently forget when people of other ethnicity's commit the same vile acts we all condemn. This is nothing but a practice of extreme ignorance and racism.

Your a utter moron

Quote:

BOSTON (CNN) -- The man who admitted to trying to blow up a U.S. jetliner with explosives in his shoes was wrestled out of a courtroom by federal marshals Thursday after a federal judge sentenced him to life in prison.

As he was dragged out of the courtroom, Richard Reid began yelling at Judge William Young, repeating his allegiance to Osama bin Laden.

Hercules Rockefeller · 03-11-2006, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

Yet another ignorant poster.

Of course I am because I am unwilling to look at the single instance of OKC and make the broad assertion that everyone does it.

GonzoLays · 03-11-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hercules Rockefeller

Of course I am because I am unwilling to look at the single instance of OKC and make the broad assertion that everyone does it.

Would you not consider church bombings as terrorists acts? Or does this not fit your worldview? Would you consider assassination of Presidents as terrorists acts? Or is that not convient for you? Who killed Lincoln, JFK, or MLK? Who shot President Reagan? Who tried to take out President Ford?

If you want to go down the list of "terrorist" acts committed in the United States your uneducated view would surely be shattered.

Ignorance is bliss.

watermock · 03-11-2006, 12:55 PM

Muslims don't have a problem bombing christian churches.

03-11-2006, 11:17 AM	#1
epicSocialism4tw Tebowing the long haul all the way to the title Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TX, USA Posts: 37,072 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	UNC Muslim Student Attacks Crowd with SUV 6 hurt as driver plows into students Local, state and federal agencies investigate. A complex is evacuated while the suspect's apartment is searched A man who drove a Jeep Cherokee Laredo into a lunchtime crowd on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus Friday, striking nine people, may have been protesting Americans' treatment of Muslims. Six people had been released from UNC Hospitals by Friday evening. None was seriously injured, university officials said. The three others declined to be treated. According to the Associated Press, suspect Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, 22, a native of Iran, "allegedly made statements that he acted to avenge the American treatment of Muslims," FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko said. "The ongoing investigation will work to confirm this." Witnesses saw the sport utility vehicle approach The Pit, the student hub outside the Student Union, at 11:53 a.m. The driver accelerated along the edge of the sunken plaza, before speeding away. UNC-CH police said they would charge Taheri-azar, of 303 Smith Level Road, Apt. D34, Carrboro, with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. About 30 minutes after the incident, Carrboro police began evacuating the University Commons apartment complex where the 2005 UNC-CH graduate lives with two roommates. "He made comments and said things regarding where he lives and things he may have that put us in concern for safety," Capt. Joel Booker of the Carrboro Police Department said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Bureau of Investigation and other local emergency agencies, including a bomb squad, joined police at the apartment complex at Smith Level and BPW Club roads. Niralee Shah, a senior at UNC-CH, had just woke up from a nap when a man in a helmet and vest with a large gun banged on her door. When she opened it, Shah said, he grabbed her by the arm and said she had to leave. Shah quickly grabbed her shoes and coat and joined other residents outside the building. From about 100 feet away, Shah watched with others as police aimed guns at a third-floor apartment in Building D while they crouched behind a car they used as a barricade. Students were allowed back into the complex about 8:30 p.m., even as police continued searching Taheri-azar's apartment. "At this point we do not feel there is any more concern for public safety," Booker said. "No bomb, nothing like that." Dual-major graduate Taheri-azar was not part of the UNC-CH Muslim Students Association, and a student who participated in a recent sit-in at The Daily Tar Heel office protesting the newspaper's publishing of a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed said Taheri-azar was not part of the protest. "We absolutely condemn any kind of violence," said freshman Salma Mirza 18. "I hope those were not his motivations. "Islam is a religion of peace," she added. The majority of Muslims on campus condemn violence, she said. Gordon Pitz, a psychology professor, taught Taheri-azar in two classes. "I just fell over," he said about hearing the news. Taheri-azar stood out in Pitz's Decision Theory and Research Methods classes, but nothing would have predicted Friday's incident, the professor said. "This is a class of about 200 people. Of those, probably about 150 I never get to know. Mohammed I did get to know," Pitz said. "He was one of those students who was very assertive in asking questions," Pitz explained. "He obviously cared a lot about his performance. Even in the very large class I taught, he was very willing to ask questions and get involved in discussions." Brad Copeland, 20, a sophomore journalism major, worked with Taheri-azar at Jimmy John's sandwich shop on West Franklin Street. He also took a philosophy class with him. "He wasn't shy in class -- not shy to speak up," Copeland said. "It was clear that he read the material and understood it and seemed to be pretty smart." Taheri-azar graduated in December, receiving a bachelor's degree with a dual major in psychology and philosophy. Until December, he was living in Chapel Hill's Northampton Plaza Apartments at 600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. A Social Security number was issued to him in 1991. He registered to vote in Orange County in 2004. In August 2003, Taheri-azar was convicted of unsafe movement after being charged with driving left of center and failing to obey a traffic officer in Orange County, according to police records. A month later, he was convicted of reckless driving to endanger for speeding and reckless driving, also in Orange County. His address both times was listed as 3125 English Sparrow Lane in Charlotte. Neighbors there say they knew the family as the Taheris and believe Taheri-azar lived with his mother and younger sister. The family has since moved away. In July 1999, a Mohamed Dhahran Taheri of the same address was charged with reckless driving to endanger and driving without a license in Mecklenburg County. 'It was so surreal' On Friday, students changing classes said they paid the silver SUV little notice until the driver revved the engine and sped around the corner of Lenoir Dining Hall. "People started screaming and jumping out of the way," said Katherine Wallace, 22, of Cary who was sitting at a table in the area. "It was so surreal. "I remember vividly that a girl just flew off the windshield and rolled off the side of the car," Wallace said. "Then, she just sat up from where she got hit." The vehicle had an Enterprise Rental Car sticker on the back bumper. Police said a laptop was found in the vehicle. Shortly before 1 p.m., officers had the SUV released from a tow truck and moved bystanders away, citing safety concerns. Friends identified two of the injured students as freshman Brittany Williams and sophomore Tiffany McDole. Williams was campaigning for the student group Black Student Movement when she was hit. McDole declined to comment Friday. Sharee Posey, 18, a freshman, was sitting on a ledge next to Lenoir when she saw the SUV speed past her. Kamishia Thomas, also 18, said she felt the vehicle brush her as it passed. "It all happened really fast," said Kristen Cabe, 19, a sophomore who was standing nearby. "It had to be deliberate," said Caity Brown-Geist, 22, a senior from Guilford, Conn. "I'm pretty much in shock because it happened so fast. People didn't have time to get out of the way. It didn't seem like it was really happening." "I'm about to graduate, and I've always felt safe here," Brown-Geist said. "It made me realize you're never really safe. Freak things happen all the time." The injured students' parents have been contacted, and the university is providing counselors throughout the weekend in the student union building as well as at UNC Hospitals. Staff writer Meiling Arounnarath can be reached at 932-2004 or meiling.arounnarath@newsobserver.com.

03-11-2006, 11:29 AM	#5
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	Hang the bastard...not only that, he ran down women...***in coward. Where were the men to beat him to a pulp...oh right...he sped away in the name of Allah. I'm sick and tired of the apologists. And even more sick and tired of idiots claiming that Islam is a religion of peace. Peace to fellow muslims isn't even true. Noone seems to understand Death to the Infidels? Last edited by watermock; 03-11-2006 at 11:32 AM..*

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03-11-2006, 11:20 AM	#2
RMT Rocky Mountain Thunder Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: United States Posts: 3,211	So much for "not profiling" people based on race or religion ... this kind of stuff is a reminder that in some cases, "profiling" can be justified ... notice, I said "some" not "all or most"

03-11-2006, 11:22 AM	#3
RhymesayersDU Go Broncos, Nuggets, Rox GANGNAM STYLE Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Back In The 303! Posts: 14,813 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ty Lawson	Damn terrorists.

03-11-2006, 11:25 AM	#4
12th man Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trinidad Colorado Posts: 1,634	this guy is ****ing nuts.

03-11-2006, 11:29 AM	#6
Popps TEAM FIRST. Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 29,786	Seriously, like every 30 seconds... some Muslim around the globe is enacting violence on someone (usually innocent) to protest something or other. But, it's not a violent religion... really. No, really. It's not.

03-11-2006, 11:30 AM	#7
sirhcyennek81 Yes...swooping is bad... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florence, Colorado Posts: 20,681 Adopt-a-Bronco: All of them.	Read once, that of all the terror groups in the world, half are Muslim-based.

03-11-2006, 11:51 AM	#14
jonny1 Ahhh, football! Broncos' cheerleaders rule! Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 2,504 Adopt-a-Bronco: Chris Kuper	The logic of this escapes me. He doesn't like the way Muslims are portrayed or treated, so he tries to run down a bunch of innocent people to prove his point . . . WTF May have been a smart student, but I don't think he took debate.

03-11-2006, 12:55 PM	#25
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	Muslims don't have a problem bombing christian churches.