Philadelphia, PA , January 11, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (“ADL”) today called last Thursday’s alleged ISIS-inspired shooting of a Philadelphia police officer “appalling,” and said it appeared to be the latest in a troubling pattern of attacks on law enforcement motivated by Islamic extremism. The perpetrator, who fired 13 shots at Officer Jesse Hartnett while he was in his patrol vehicle in West Philadelphia, reportedly stated, “I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. That is why I did what I did.”
“This appalling attack, which appears to be inspired by ISIS ideology, is part of a disturbing trend in violence motivated by Islamic extremism against law enforcement in the United States,” said Nancy Baron-Baer, Regional Director. “Since 2015, there have been at least 4 plots against American law enforcement in response to direct calls from ISIS to commit such attacks. This latest attempted murder sheds light on the threat ISIS, and those inspired by its twisted extremist ideology, pose to law enforcement.
“ADL wholeheartedly commends the valiant actions of Officer Hartnett and the entire Philadelphia Police Department in apprehending the perpetrator, and in protecting Philadelphians from extremist violence.”
In an indicative example of ISIS’s calls to violence against law enforcement, a January 2015 speech by ISIS chief spokesman Abu Mohammad al Adnani admonished followers to, “Strike their police, security and intelligence members.”
According to ADL, 2015 was the worst year for extremist violence in two decades, and saw a marked uptick in domestic Islamic extremism. Early signs suggest no slowdown in 2016. Since 2009, 7 individuals have been arrested in Pennsylvania for Islamic-extremism related crimes, and 2 additional Pennsylvania residents were arrested elsewhere.
ADL is the nation’s largest nongovernmental trainer of law enforcement on the topics of extremism, terrorism and hate crime.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry.