On November 28, 2016, Abdul Razak Ali Artan, an 18-year-old legal resident of the United States whose family was originally from Somalia, used a car to mow down a group of people at the Ohio State University.

In this quote, Peter Bergen recounts a specific incident that occurred on November 28, 2016, when Abdul Razak Ali Artan, an 18-year-old legal resident of the United States, carried out an attack at Ohio State University. Artan, whose family was originally from Somalia, used a car to intentionally mow down a group of people. Bergen is providing a factual account of the event, which garnered significant media attention due to the nature of the attack and Artan’s background as a legal immigrant.

The origin of this quote stems from Peter Bergen’s role as a national security expert and journalist who frequently writes and reports on issues related to terrorism and radicalization. In this case, Bergen is referencing a specific act of violence that raised questions about homegrown terrorism and the influence of extremist ideologies on individuals living in the U.S. Artan’s background as a legal resident complicates the typical narrative about terrorism, as his actions were seen by some as a form of domestic radicalization.

Bergen’s mention of Artan’s Somali heritage and legal residency highlights the complexity of the case, as it challenges the idea that terrorist threats predominantly come from recent immigrants or foreign nationals. The attack, while not formally linked to a specific terrorist organization, was widely reported as an act of terrorism due to Artan’s apparent motivations and the targeting of innocent civilians. This underscores the growing concern about radicalization within the United States, particularly among individuals who are citizens or legal residents.

Ultimately, this quote serves to contextualize the Ohio State University attack within broader conversations about immigration, terrorism, and radicalization in the U.S. It highlights how events like this challenge traditional notions of who might be a threat to national security, raising important questions about how to prevent such attacks and address the underlying causes of domestic terrorism.