The Latest: Flint airport stabber says US is enemy of Allah

FLINT, Mich. – The Latest on statements made to federal agents by a man charged with stabbing a police officer at an airport in Flint, Michigan (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

The government says Amor Ftouhi (ah-MOOR’ fuh-TOO’-ee) told agents investigating the stabbing of a police officer at an airport in Flint, Michigan, that he considers the U.S. an enemy of Allah and that others like him would be coming to harm the country.

The 49-year-old Ftouhi is a Tunisia native who lives in Montreal, Quebec. He has been indicted on charges of committing an act of violence at an international airport and interfering with airport security in connection with the June attack.

Ftouhi’s public defender has asked a judge to force prosecutors to hand over names, addresses and telephone numbers of witnesses to help in his defence.

Federal prosecutors say in a court filing that providing such information could make witnesses in a terrorism case “react with fear and anger.”

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1:40 p.m.

Federal prosecutors have told a judge that a Tunisian-born man who stabbed a police officer at a Michigan airport subscribes to Osama Bin Laden’s ideology and celebrated the 9-11 attacks.

The assertions were made in a court filing against 49-year-old Amor Ftouhi (ah-MOOR’ fuh-TOO’-ee) of Montreal, Quebec.

Prosecutors are opposing Ftouhi’s federal defender’s request for names, addresses and telephone numbers of witnesses in the case. They say that it would risk “future co-operation of witnesses” and impact “their willingness to testify.”

Defence attorneys say they need the information to adequately represent Ftouhi in the criminal case.

Lt. Jeff Neville was stabbed June 21 at Flint’s Bishop International Airport. Ftouhi has been indicted on charges of committing an act of violence at an international airport and interfering with airport security.