Swiss police: Teen suspect in stabbing of Jewish man in Zurich sympathizes with ISIS

GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss police say the 15-year-old suspect in the stabbing of an Orthodox Jewish man in Zurich over the weekend had appeared in a video expressing solidarity with the banned Islamic State group, and called himself a “soldier” in its self-described caliphate.

Zurich cantonal police security chief Mario Fehr tells reporters that authorities are investigating whether the teen, who is not identified, acted alone or as part of a group. Officials say the suspect was a Swiss national.

“He refers to the IS (Islamic State), describes himself as a soldier of the caliphate,” Fehr says of the video that authorities had authenticated. He denounces the stabbing Saturday as a “terrorist” and “antisemitic” attack. The suspect was arrested at the scene.

In one video, the suspect refers to the attack in Arabic and calls for a “battle against the Jews,” Fehr says.

Authorities say the 50-year-old victim was critically injured, but his life is no longer in danger. Swiss police have stepped up security around certain sites with a Jewish connection as a precaution.