Germany Suspects Islamism in Attack on US Forces

Suspected shooter's family says he's devout Muslim, but can't comprehend act
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 3, 2011 7:44 AM CST
Germany Suspects Islamism in Attack on US Forces
A hearse leaves the crime scene after a gunman fired shots at U.S. soldiers on the bus outside Frankfurt airport, Germany, Wednesday, March 2, 2011 killing two airmen and wounding two before being taken into custody.    (Martin Oeser)

The attack on a busload of US Air Force troops that killed two at Frankfurt airport is being investigated as a possible act of Islamic terrorism, German prosecutors said today. Two airmen were also wounded late yesterday when a man identified as a 21-year-old ethnic Albanian from Kosovo fired on the servicemen at close range. His family said the young man worked at Frankfurt airport and was a devout Muslim. "Given the circumstances, there is a suspicion that the act was motivated by Islamism," said prosecutors.

The suspect, identified as Arid Uka, is to appear later today in federal court. The suspect's uncle said Uka's grandfather was a leader at a mosque near Mitrovica, and that Arid Uka was a devout Muslim himself. But he said the family was pro-American and was also having a hard time imagining that their nephew was involved. "I love the Americans because they helped us a lot in times of trouble," he told the AP. "What happened in Germany is beyond me." Click for more. (More Frankfurt stories.)

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