Thread by @RobinSimcox

*THREAD* There is a strain of thinking – epitomised by @mehdirhasan in a recent MSNBC interview – that Muslims who carry out acts of violence are reported in the media as ideologically-driven terrorists and not as mentally ill. 1/

This is not true and here’s a few examples – just from recent years – to prove it. I’ve no doubt there are others. 2/

In December 2014, Nacer B. injured thirteen people in vehicular attack in Dijon. The prosecutor discharged him from terrorism-related charges because of his psychiatric condition. 3/

In June 2015, Alen Rizvanovic murdered three and injured 36 in Graz, mowing down pedestrians and stabbing others. He was assessed to be mentally ill, and is now in a psychiatric ward and not a prison: krone.at/514543

In August 2016, a rabbi was stabbed in Strasbourg by someone yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’. The assailant was assessed to be mentally ill. thejc.com/news/world/all… 5/

Also in August 2016, a Norwegian Somali carried out a series of stabbings in Russell Square, killing one and injuring five. It was reported as a mental health issue. bbc.com/news/uk-369721… 6/

In October 2016, police in Mülheim an der Ruhr were attacked by an ISIS supporter carrying a knife. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. welt.de/politik/deutsc… 7/

In December 2017, a Syrian asylum seeker attacked several people with a knife in Berlin. He was deemed mentally unstable. bz-berlin.de/tatort/mann-at… 8/

In May 2018, an asylum seeker from Syria stabbed three people in the Hague while yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’. His mental health issues were addressed in the press, as was the intent of the assailant’s family to sue the institution that cared for him. dutchnews.nl/news/2018/07/m… 9/

In June 2018, a Syrian refugee who stabbed police officers while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ was shot and killed by the police. The mayor said he must have had a psychotic attack. dutchnews.nl/news/2018/06/m… 10/

In September 2018, an Afghan asylum seeker stabbed three people in Ravensburg. He was transferred to a psychiatric ward, not prison. dw.com/en/migrant-sta… 11/

Of course journalists differ in quality. But if there really was a significant number intending to depict Muslims as terrorists, facts be damned, all of these stories could have been given a terror spin. 12/

Instead, I doubt many people remember these incidents precisely because they were not sensationalized in the press or widely reported as terrorism. And that's exactly how it should be: reporting the facts with no political bias. 13/

The fight against terrorists in all forms is only going to be made that much harder if reckless accusations are thrown around. 14/14

Thanks to those who provided more examples for this thread. Fatmir H., an asylum seeker from Kosovo, injuries nine people with an axe in Düsseldorf. He had a history of mental illness and is now in a psychiatric ward. thelocal.de/20170310/dusse… h/t @HouseInTheFog

Paul H., kills one and injures three near Munich train station while yelling 'Allahu Akbar'. Sent to a psychiatric hospital. bbc.com/news/world-eur… h/t @HouseInTheFog

In March 2016, Ayanle Hassan Ali stabs two Canadian soldiers in Toronto. He's acquitted of terrorism charges, assessed to be a schizophrenic. cbc.ca/news/canada/to… h/t @ibossrobots