Montreal man denied bail in Michigan airport stabbing mutters 'Allahu akbar' in court
Amor Ftouhi, 49, consented to be detained for the rest of his case in Flint
A Montreal man accused of stabbing an airport police officer at a Michigan airport was denied bail Wednesday and will remain in custody.
- Montreal suspect in Michigan airport stabbing had tried to buy a gun, FBI says
- Montreal man suspected in stabbing of police officer at Michigan airport
Amor Ftouhi was wearing a medical mask and repeatedly muttered "Allahu akbar" (literally, it "God is great") when he appeared at a bail hearing. Police have alleged Ftouhi yelled that phrase as he stabbed Lt. Jeff Neville in the neck a week ago at Bishop International Airport.
Ftouhi, a 49-year-old native of Tunisia, is charged with committing violence at an airport.
Joan Morgan, a lawyer for Ftouhi, did not object to the government's request that he stay in jail. Morgan said he would be held by U.S. immigration authorities even if he were granted bail. Court officials would not confirm where he is being held in custody.
Despite sustaining a 30-centimetre wound that doctors say narrowly missed nerves and major arteries, Neville was released from hospital Monday.
Ftouhi previously told court officials he has lived in Canada for a decade and has three children.
The FBI believes he crossed into the United States at Champlain, N.Y., on June 16 and arrived in Michigan two days later.
Before travelling to Flint, he lived in an apartment in Montreal's St-Michel neighbourhood, where neighbours described him as a "good person" who tended to keep to himself.
The FBI said Ftouhi bought a knife during his five days in the U.S., and was unsuccessful at trying to buy a gun.
Ftouhi is next scheduled to appear in court July 5 for a preliminary hearing.
with files from the Associate Press and CBC Montreal