White Supremacist in Custody Following Portland Terror Attack Leaving Two Heroes Dead, One Injured

The Heroes Were Reportedly Defending Muslim Women

A known white supremacist is in custody following the terror attack in Portland, Oregon that left two people dead and another injured on a light-rail train on Friday.

Eyewitnesses told CBS’ local affiliate that Jeremy Joseph Christian, a well-documented White Supremacist, was “yelling about hating Muslims and other things for several minutes before people confronted him, possibly trying to defend the young woman wearing a hijab.” Witnesses said that two women, who appeared to be Muslim, had drawn Christian’s ire—one of whom was wearing a hijab.

Portland Police Sergeant Pete Simpson confirmed to the affiliate that Christian was aboard the train, “ranting and raving, a lot of different things, including what would be characterized as hate speech or bias language.”

“In the midst of his ranting and raving, some people approached him and appeared to try to intervene with his behavior,” he continued, “and they were attacked viciously by the suspect.” Simpson confirmed that one person died at the scene, another at a local hospital. The third victim is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The names of the deceased heroes will reportedly be released following their autopsies. The two women whom eyewitnesses say they defended left the scene before police could interview them.

Following the attack, Christian reportedly advised that he was departing the train at the next station, threatening that he shouldn’t be followed. Portland police took him into custody nearby, after he “ran south into the nearby neighborhoods.”

As The Portland Mercury reported, Christian has a criminal record, his Facebook page is littered with anti-Semitic comments  and he recently attended a right-wing “March for Free Speech” in which he attempted to assault others as he offered the Nazi salute: 

Following the attack, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on Donald Trump to denounce the rising bigotry against Muslims.

“President Trump must speak out personally against the rising tide of Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry and racism in our nation that he has provoked through his numerous statements, policies and appointments that have negatively impacted minority communities,” National Executive Director Nihad Award said.

Christian is being held without bail at the Multnomah County Jail on charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, intimidation in the second degree and felon in possession of a restricted weapon.

 

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