Knife-Wielding Minnesota Mall Assailant Likely a 'Lone Attacker'
The attack is still under investigation as a "a potential act of terrorism."
— -- The knife attack that injured 10 people at a shopping mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Saturday evening is likely the work of a "lone attacker," the city's police chief said today. However, the FBI will also continue to investigate.
"We haven't uncovered anything that would suggest other than a lone attacker at this point," St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson said at a news conference today. He added that the department will "be transparent" if new information suggests otherwise, according to The Associated Press.
President Barack Obama said this morning that the FBI is investigating the incident "as a potential act of terrorism."
"We will direct the full resources from the federal government to make sure that the investigation goes forward aggressively," he said. At this point, there is no intelligence that links the Minnesota incident to incidents involving explosive devices in New York and New Jersey over the weekend, he said at a press conference.
ISIS claimed that the Minnesota attacker was "a soldier of the Islamic State," according to Rasd, a news agency operated by ISIS, although it is still unclear how the group may be linked to the stabbings.
Ten people —- eight men, one woman and a teenage girl —- were injured in Saturday's attack at the Crossroads Center mall; none of their injuries were life-threatening, according to authorities. All have been treated and released, according to the AP.
According to authorities, the assailant wore a security guard's uniform and mentioned Allah, asking at least one of his victims if the person was Muslim before continuing his attack. The suspect has since been identified as 20-year-old Dahir Ahmed Adan.
The assailant was killed by an off-duty Avon police officer, identified as Jason Falconer, whom officials praised at a press conference today. Avon Police Chief Corey Nellis said Falconer was the "right person at the right place at the right time," according to the AP.
President Obama told reporters today before meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister that he thanked Falconer, who stepped in during the Minnesota attacks, on the phone.
"I talked to off-duty police officer there, who undoubtedly saved a lot of lives and prevented additional injury," the president said. "I told him that once again the American people were appreciative of his work and his heroism."
ABC News' Michael Edison Hayden contributed to this report.