Video: Woman Killed By Police Was Sister Of Accused Terrorist

Tampa FL

29 May, 2020

3:58 PM

Description

TEMPLE TERRACE, FL — Temple Terrace Police say the woman who was fatally shot by police at Temple Terrace City Hall Friday was the sister of a Tampa man accused of planning a terrorist attack on Tampa Bay on behalf of ISIS. The woman has been identified as Heba Momtaz Al-Azhari, 22. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the filing of a criminal complaint charging Al-Azhari's 23-year-old brother, Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari, with "attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization," namely ISIS. See related story: Tampa Man Accused Of Planning ISIS Terrorist Attack On Tampa Bay According to the 63-page complaint affidavit, Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari was an ISIS supporter who planned to carry out an attack in the Tampa Bay area. The justice department said Al-Azhari researched and scouted potential targets in the Tampa area, including Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, the Tampa FBI field office and Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa. Heba Momtaz Al-Azhari was reportedly upset over the charges her brother was facing. Police said she entered the Temple Terrace City Hall, 11250 N. 56th St., at 1:14 p.m. Friday and said she needed help. Surveillance video shows a uniformed officer approaching Al-Azhari as she sat on a bench outside city hall. As he approaches, Al-Azhari stands, pulls out a knife and lunges at the officer with the weapon. According to Temple Terrace Police Chief Ken Albano, the officer ordered Al-Azhari to drop the knife several times while another officer came to his aid. The shooting took place off camera. Police haven't said if one or both officers shot Al-Zhari. The officers have not been named. Al-Zhari was rushed to the hospital where she died. The officer who was attacked was treated for injuries that are not life-threatening. The Temple Terrace Police Department is working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on the investigation.