Mass Stabbing 8 Dead Father Reveal Suspect

The suspect behind a mass stabbing at a Minnesota shopping centre has been named as Dahir Adan, it has been reported.

Eight people were injured in the attack at the Crossroads shopping centre in St Cloud before the assailant was shot dead by an off-duty police officer.

The attacker has been identified by his father as Dahir Adan, 22, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Ahmed Adan said police officers told him that his son died at the shopping centre but would not disclose anything about the attack.

Mr Adan added that he had "no suspicion" his son had been involved in terrorist activity.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that Dahir Adan, a student at St Cloud State University, was a Somali-American, born in Kenya. 

A spokesman for St Cloud State University said he had not been enrolled since the spring term.

Members of the Somali-American community in St Cloud held a news conference on Sunday to condemn the attack.

Activist Hassan Yussuf said: "This incident should not be used to spread hate.

"It should be used to bring us together because it has affected me, it has affected you, it's affected everybody." 

The victims of the attack were taken to hospital with injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening.

Police said that the attacker was known to them but only through minor driving offences.

Speaking on Saturday night, police chief Blair Anderson said the suspect had "made some references to Allah".

He added: "We have confirmed that he asked at least one person if they were Muslim before he assaulted them."

An Islamic State statement said the killer, who was wearing a security guard's uniform, was a "soldier of the Islamic State".