Five hospitalized after campus shooting

UPDATE: An Islamic State (ISIS) news agency today praised the attacker at Ohio State University, calling Abdul Razak Ali Artan “a soldier of the Islamic State” who acted “in response to calls to target citizens of international coalition countries.” ISIS has previously named lone-wolf terrorists as its soldiers without having evidence it helped plan or execute specific attacks.

UPDATE (11/29/16, 2:32 p.m.): The Facebook posts of Abdul Razak Ali Artan, who injured 11 people Monday in an attack at Ohio State University, reveal a deep disdain for the United States. Artan, a Somali immigrant with permanent legal resident status, blamed America for ongoing terror attacks.

“If you want us Muslims to stop carrying lone wolf attacks, then make peace” with the Islamic State group, he wrote, according to a law enforcement official.

Artan also posted statements that suggest his attack was premeditated and prompted by a radical Islamic ideology.

“Every single Muslim who disapproves of my actions is a sleeper cell, waiting for a signal,” he wrote. “I am warning you Oh America!”

Artan was born in Somalia but lived in Pakistan between 2007 and 2014, when he came to the United States as the child of a refugee. He began attending Columbus State Community College that year, graduating with honors in May with an associate of arts degree. He started at Ohio State University in the fall.

The FBI is searching Artan’s apartment for clues about what might have set off his rampage. A police officer shot and killed the attacker as he was stabbing people on a campus sidewalk.

UPDATE (11/29/16, 10:20 a.m.): Four of the 11 people injured in Monday’s car-and-knife attack at Ohio State University remain hospitalized this morning. Most of the victims suffered trauma after attacker Abdul Razak Ali Artan struck them with his car. One victim has a fractured skull. Two had knife wounds.

Investigators are trying to determine what prompted the 18-year-old to attempt to kill fellow students. Artan was not on any terror watch list, but analysts note his attack mirrors others carried out by self-radicalized Muslims. Several militant groups recruiting online in recent months have encouraged lone wolf attacks using cars and knives because they are easier to pull off than attacks with bombs or guns.

Islamic State recruiters have encouraged individual attacks with whatever weapons are available.

Neighbors described Artan as polite. He attended daily prayer services at a mosque in Columbus. Leaders of local Muslim organizations have condemned the attack and cautioned against assuming Artan acted out of a radical ideology.

UPDATE (11/28/16, 3:50 p.m.): Columbus, Ohio, police are investigating this morning’s incident at Ohio State University as a possible terrorist attack.

The man who drove over a curb to plow into a crowd of pedestrians has been identified as Abdul Razak Ali Artan, a Somali-born legal permanent U.S. resident.

After initially reporting that none of the nine victims sustained life-threatening injuries, officials said this afternoon that one is in critical condition. After hitting pedestrians, Artan jumped out of his car and began stabbing people with a butcher knife.

According to witnesses, Artan did not say anything as he stabbed his victims. Police have not speculated about a possible motive.

The FBI and other agencies have joined the investigation.

UPDATE (11/28/16, 1:30 p.m.): Police say the attacker who injured eight people this morning at Ohio State University in Columbus purposely drove over a curb into a pedestrian area, then got out of the car and started stabbing people with a butcher knife.

Police eventually shot and killed the attacker. None of the victims have life-threatening injuries, according to officials. About an hour and a half after university administrators issued a shelter-in-place order, they lifted it, allowing students to emerge from barricaded classrooms.

Investigators have not offered any potential motive for the attack. Although initial reports labeled the incident an “active shooter” situation, police say they have no indication any of the victims suffered gunshot wounds.

Classes have been canceled for the rest of the day.

UPDATE (11/28/16, 12:30 p.m.): Authorities say an attacker at Ohio State University is dead, and the campus has lifted a shelter-in-place order. Area hospitals reported at least eight people had non-life-threatening injuries after the attack, though some news outlets said one person was in critical condition.

News reports vary on whether one or two people committed the attack and what weapons were used. A university spokesman said the injuries included stab wounds and being hit by a vehicle. Students reported hearing gunshots at the time of the attack.

OUR EARLIER REPORT (11/28/16, 11:08 a.m.): Officials in Columbus, Ohio, say emergency responders have transported seven people to a local hospital after police reported an active shooter at Ohio State University. Two people are in stable condition, but police have not offered any details on the other five.

At about 10 a.m., school officials tweeted an emergency message: “Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College.” Watts Hall is a materials science and engineering building.

It’s not yet clear whether the situation is ongoing or how many shooters might be involved.

School officials are asking students to shelter in place on parts of campus near the incident.

Ohio State is one of the country’s largest universities, with about 60,000 students attending classes at its Columbus campus.