Zale Thompson, the 32-year-old man who attacked two NYPD officers with a hatchet on Thursday, featured an image of an Islamic warrior and passages from the Quran on his Facebook page.
CNN reported that the content on Thompson’s Facebook profile has created concerns that the attack may have been motivated by Islamic extremism.
"On a Facebook page bearing his name and location in Queens, the black and white profile photo shows an armed masked fighter, spear, sword and rifle at the ready," CNN reporter Alexandra Field said. "The cover photo, a quote from the Quran, judging those who have wandered astray."
The photo, an iconic image of an African Muslim warrior who was part of the Islamic conquest of Spain and Portugal in the 8th century, falls against the backdrop of a Quranic passage that warns of God's wrath if a believer leaves "the straight path."