Suspect with butcher's knife, reportedly student and refugee, killed as eleven victims injured

• Suspect killed after knife attack on campus
• Identified as Abdul Artan, 18-year-old refugee and student at university
• Incidental occurred at one of America's biggest universities in Columbus
• Eleven people hospitalised, one in critical condition
• Initial reports claimed 'active shooter' and urged students to 'run, hide, fight'
• Witnesses describe how police 'took three shots to take him down'

An attack on Monday at Ohio State University was being investigated as a possible act of terrorism after a student, an 18-year-old Somali refugee, injured eleven people, first with a car and then with a butcher's knife.

The suspect "intentionally" drove drove over a curb, striking multiple pedestrians, before emerging with a knife and stabbing several people. 

The suspect was identified as Abdul Razak Ali Artan, a Somali national and legal permanent resident of the US.

One witness said he looked "crazed" during the attack, while another said he was "going insane".

Alan Hurujko, a 28-year-old police officer, responded to the scene within one minute and shot the suspect dead.

"He engaged the suspect and eliminated the threat," Craig Stone, chief of the university's police department said.

Kim Jacobs, chief of the Columbus, Ohio police department, said the department was investigating the attack as a possible terrorist attack.

"We have to consider that it is that possibility," she said.

None of the injuries were life-threatening, though one victim was initially listed in critical condition. 

The attack prompted panic on campus, and university officials sent a tweet urging students to "run, hide, fight".

Students sprinted for safety after the gunshots rang out, and others used furniture to barricade themselves inside classrooms.

The attack was at first treated as an active shooting situation, and there were reports of a second suspect inside the engineering building on campus.

It was hours before officials clarified that all gunshots were fired by police, and the suspect had acted alone.

Martin Schneider, also a student, said he heard the car's engine revving.

"I thought it was an accident initially until I saw the guy come out with a knife," Schneider said, adding that the man didn't say anything when he got out.

Angshuman Kapil, a graduate student, was standing near the spot where the car barreled onto the sidewalk.

"It just hit everybody who was in front," he said. "After that everybody was shouting, 'Run! Run! Run!'"

John Kasich, the governor of Ohio, expressed his condolences:

Suspect spoke last year about struggle of being a Muslim on campus

Abdul Artan, the suspect in today's attack, was featured last year in a student newspaper, in a section called Humans of Ohio State.

Artan said at the time that he felt he was portrayed a certain way because he was Muslim, and it made him nervous when he first arrived on campus and needed to find somewhere to pray.

“I’m a Muslim, it’s not what the media portrays me to be. If people look at me, a Muslim praying, I don’t know what they’re going to think, what's going to happen, but I don't blame them," he said.

"It’s the media that put that picture in their heads so they’re just going to have it and... it’s going to make them feel uncomfortable," he continued.

Update: eleven people injured

The number of injuries has risen to eleven though, as previously reported, none of the wounds are life-threatening.

Heroic officer named

Suspect identified: Abdul Razak Ali Artan

NBC News have identified the suspect as Abdul Artan, citing law enforcement officials. Artan, a Somali national, was reportedly a student at Ohio State and a legal permanent resident of the United States.

Report: suspect was 18-year-old refugee

NBC News, citing law enforcement officials, reports that the suspect was an 18-year-old student at the university, and is believed to have been a refugee from Somalia.

Terrorism a "possible" motivation

Kim Jacobs, the Columbus chief of police, has said it was a "possibility" that the attack was an act of terrorism.

According to NBC News, the suspect was a Somali refugee and a student at Ohio State.

NBC's Pete Williams on @MSNBC: Police believe suspect was a student at OSU, a Somali refugee & lawful permanent resident of the US

Craig Stone, chief of police at the university, said the suspect "exited the vehicle, and used a butcher knife to start cutting pedestrians."

"Our officer was on scene in less than a minute and he ended the situation in less than a minute. He engaged the suspect, and he eliminated the threat," he added

Suspect drove over curb, emerged with knife

University officials have said the suspect, who has not been identified, acted alone.

He drove his car over a curb near campus, striking two pedestrians. He then emerged with a butcher's knife and proceeded to stab several people.

The total number of injuries has risen to 10, but all of the victims are expected to survive.

University officials: injuries include someone struck by car

University officials have released a statement saying police are still responding to the incident, and that one victim was hit by a vehicle.

Witness: suspect chased students with a large knife

A suspect has said he saw an "African American male in dark clothing" pull out a long knife and chase students. 
He said there were so many students around that the suspect was unable to focus his attack on individuals.

The suspect said he was police shoot at the suspect, and it took three shots to take him down.

All injuries non life threatening

All three hospitals who received patients injured in the attack say they are being treated for non life threatening injuries.

Most of the patients have knife wounds. One patient was originally characterised as in critical condition but is now expected to survive.

Suspect used knife in attack

Police have said that the suspect used a long knife, perhaps a machete, during the attack. Its unclear if he also had a gun, or whether the gunshots that sparked the 'active shooter' warning came from police.

Mayor releases statement

 The mayor of Columbus, Ohio has released a statement:

We lift up the victims and first responders of the tragedy this morning at Ohio State University in our thoughts and prayers.

Scene secured

UPDATE 1/2 : Shelter in Place lifted. Scene is now secure. ALL classes are canceled on Columbus campus for the remainder of the day.

One of America's largest universities

There are nearly 60,000 at Ohio State, making it one of America's largest universities. Its campus is in Columbus, Ohio's capital.

Buckeye Alert: Continue to shelter in place. Wait for Police officers directions. Please contact Police / 9-1-1 only if you have information

What we know 

Reports of second suspect

Police and swat team members are surrounding the engineering building on Ohio State's campus, while students say they have been told there is another suspect.

One man was seen being handcuffed near the scene, but it is unclear if that is related to the shooting.

Police have one person at gunpoint in Lane Ave garage at #OhioState, per emergency dispatch reports

LeBron James spreads the word

LeBron James, the basketball star and Ohio native, has taken to twitter to warn people in the area to get to safety.

Suspect reportedly killed

Local media are reporting that a suspect in the shooting has been killed. It is unclear whether there are additional suspects.

NBC4 has confirmed that one suspect is dead at Ohio State.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbHLnp6rmaCde6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwfo9qbWhpYWR%2FeXvOoaCoZaOdvLDAyKeeZpmTqba3sYysn6inpJq%2Fbr7EqaarrJWZeqStzKmsrGWfnbawedKtmK2dXaq7qsLEq6qirKlk