Last year, the establishment media made an all-out effort to whitewash the phrase “Allahu akbar.” The worst article, among many, was published in the New York Daily News. Zainab Chaudry of the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) argued that non-Muslims shouldn’t “believe the worst” about “Allahu akbar” because Muslims don’t just scream it while murdering non-Muslims, but use it in a variety of contexts. Chaudry’s conclusion was chilling:
So the next time you hear Allahu Akbar — whether it’s in a media report, on an airplane, or in a shopping mall, remember that the phrase used by millions of Muslims and Christians daily to praise God regardless of their circumstances, can never be justified for use when harming His creation.
This was deadly advice. If you hear “Allahu akbar” yelled on an airplane or in a shopping mall, you may well be in the midst of a jihad terror attack. But people conditioned by Chaudry’s advice may not realize that. Bystanders in Liege, when they heard “Allahu akbar,” should have gotten as far away as possible. But Chaudry would have had them stand there thinking about how Islam is a religion of peace. And so the number of victims would have been maximized.
“Belgium shooting: Terror investigation launched after ‘released prisoner’ kills two police officers before taking hostage in Liege,” by James Crisp and Danny Boyle, Telegraph, May 29, 2018:
A gunman shot dead a man and two police officers with their own guns in a suspected terror attack on Tuesday morning before he was killed in a shootout after taking a cleaning lady hostage outside a school in the centre of the Belgian city of Liege.
The dead shooter, 36, was named locally as Benjamin Herman, from Rochefort, a city about an hour from Liege. He was well-known to police after a string of crimes including robbery, assault and drug-dealing.
Local media reported that Herman was temporarily released from prison for several hours on Monday night for “family leave” to prepare his reintegration into society, despite a prison service assessment that he was very violent.
Belgian’s federal prosecutors office has opened an investigation into whether the attack was terror-related. Herman was not on the government’s list of suspected potential terrorists, according to local media, but had been in touch with radicalised prisoners during his several stints in jail.
There were reports he shouted “Alluha Akbar” before murdering the two female officers and a 22-year-old man but those claims have not been confirmed by the Belgian authorities….
“Belgium shooting: Terrorist gunman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ kills two policewomen and passer-by in Liege before being shot dead,” Evening Standard, May 29, 2018 (thanks to Karen):
A terrorist gunman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ knifed two policewomen before grabbing one of their weapons and shooting them dead before going on a rampage in the Belgian city of Liege today.
The attacker also shot dead a 22-year-old man before being killed by anti-terrorist officers.
The suspect, who was reportedly dressed in black and wearing a backpack, opened fire after being questioned in a routine documents check by officers in the street near a cafe in the centre of the city.
He is said to have disarmed one of the officers and opened fire.
Police said the attacker was a prison inmate who had been granted a few hours release on Monday but failed to return to prison. The attacker was known drug offender, according to reports.
Although the motive for the attack was not immediately clear, Belgium terror prosecutors have now taken over the case.
The drama unfolded soon after 10.30am local time, when gunfire was heard near the Cafe des Augustins in the city centre.
Images of social media showed pedestrians fleeing with the sounds of gunshots and sirens in the background.
One witness said on Twitter: ”Lot of police at the Boulevard d’Avroy in Liege right now. I heard gunshots. I saw people fleeing in my street.”
A local police source said: “Two officers were hit and then the man went on the run. He was seen running into the Waha secondary school, where he is said to have taken a female cleaner hostage.’
Minutes later, anti-terrorist special forces police could be seen surrounding the area, which went into lock down.
They are said to have shot the suspect dead at the school. Two more police officers were injured in the exchange of fire.
The school cleaner was not believed to have been hurt in the shoot-out.
The source said: “The gunman was then neutralised,” confirming that he was shot dead. “He was heard shouting Alluhu Akbar’ – Arabic for ‘God is the Greatest’.”
Catherine Collignon, a spokesman for Liege prosecutors, confirmed “four deaths in total.”
She confirmed that “terrorism” was considered the principal motivation for the attack by those leading the judicial enquiry.
The attacker had been stopped by the officers for a routine documents check close to the Boulevard d’Avroy. …