On the morning on July 16, 2015, a terrorist attack by extremist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez murdered five members of the United States armed forces: Carson A. Holmquist, Thomas J. Sullivan, Squire K. “Skip” Wells. David A. Wyatt, and now Randall Smith.
Chattanooga Terrorist Attack Victims: David Wyatt, Thomas Sullivan, Skip Wells,
The terror attacks began with shootings on the Armed Forces Career Center, which recruits for branches of the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Tennessee National Guard. Terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez drove his car and rammed it through the security gate at the naval reserve center on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga, shooting into recruiting offices, and hitting several people. The terrorist Abdulazeez was stopped by responding police officers and was fatally shot by them.
Terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez was a young man representing an extremist ideology. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen, who was a Jordanian citizen born in Kuwait.
Reuters has reported that the SITE Intelligence Group said a July 13, 2015 Terrorist Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez wrote about the call for those who “fought Jihad for the sake of Allah.” Reuters could not independently verify the blog postings. His father was investigated twice, and cleared, of suspicion of funding terrorist organizations.
The local Islamic Center of Greater Chattanooga’s president Bassam Issa urged all Muslims in the community to attend an interfaith gathering Friday night to show solidarity after what he called an act “of cowardice and hate.”
All people of conscience reject such violent attacks, extremist hate, and terrorist attacks on our shared human rights, dignity, security, and lives. We urge all of our fellow human beings to speak on this issue and remain Responsible for Equality And Liberty.