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A 42-year-old man is facing charges of terrorism and assault with intent to murder after 11 shoppers were stabbed at a Walmart supermarket in the US state of Michigan.<\/p>\n
An assailant used a folding knife to stab five men and six women, including a Walmart employee, on Saturday afternoon in Traverse City.<\/p>\n
The victims, ranging in age from 21 to 84, are all expected to survive. The suspect, Bradford James Gille, is due to be arraigned on Monday or Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Investigators said the stabbings were random and they are yet to reveal a motive, but they said a terrorism charge was justified because such a mass attack was believed to be intended to bring fear and destruction to the community as a whole.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said officers began arriving at the store two minutes after the first call came through.<\/p>\n
“At the time of the deputy’s arrival, multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot and preventing him from harming further people and leaving,” he said. “The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident.”<\/p>\n
He added that the suspect’s motive was “yet to be determined”. <\/p>\n
“Our detectives, with assistance from the FBI, interviewed him at length, and that will be part of the investigation as it moves forward,” he added.<\/p>\n
Joe Pennington, a Walmart spokesperson, said: “Violence like this is unacceptable. <\/p>\n
“Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders.”<\/p>\n
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on Saturday that federal personnel were responding to provide any necessary support to local authorities.<\/p>\n
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”<\/p>\n
Traverse City is about 255 miles (410km) north-west of Detroit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n