US police officer stabbed at Michigan airport in 'terror' attack

A police officer was stabbed at a Michigan airport on Wednesday, in what US authorities were investigating as an "act of terrorism."

NBC News reported that the attacker stabbed the officer multiple times while shouting "Allahu Akbar".

The suspect, who is in custody and cooperating with investigators, is a Canadian resident in his 50s named Amor Ftouhi, FBI special agent David Gelios told a news conference.

Authorities were conducting joint operations in Canada and the US in the wake of the non-fatal stabbing at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Gelios said.  

Ftouhi, described by police as having a "hatred for the United States," is accused of stabbing airport officer Jeff Neville in the neck with a 12-inch knife in the public area of the airport.

"The police officer assaulted is in stable condition," the airport posted on Facebook. "The suspect is in custody and is currently being questioned."

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said the state is monitoring the situation.

No passengers were harmed in the assault, according to the airport which closed for several hours after the incident.

Michigan State Police said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was in charge of the scene, while the airport tweeted that local and state agencies were also on site.

The injured officer underwent surgery, NBC reported. He was bleeding from the neck after the attack according to a witness cited in local media.

After the apparent attack Michigan State Police asked residents to remain “vigilant” and report suspicious activity to the authorities.