A man on a Portland train hurled anti-Muslim insults on a train before fatally stabbing two good samaritans who intervened in the harassment, according to Portland Police. One man was killed on the scene, while another died in a hospital. Yet another man who attempted to help was also stabbed, but his injuries are not life-threatening, police reported.
"Get off the bus, and get out of the country because you don't pay taxes here,' [he said he] doesn't like Muslims, they're criminals," the suspect reportedly said, according to a witness who spoke with KATU-TV, a local news station.
Police are still working to identify the suspect and victims, Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said in a press conference recorded by KATU-TV.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR):
Terrible tragedy on Portland's Max Train. Champions of justice risked and lost their lives. Hate is evil. https://t.co/RMB5ltQlop
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) May 27, 2017
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's staff, via his Twitter account:
Mayor Wheeler is aboard the inaugural direct flight from PDX to London - departed at 4:56pm. A statement on attack is expected Saturday.
— Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) May 27, 2017
UPDATE (5/27/2017, 8:45 a.m.): The Portland Mercury reports that the man accused of murdering two good samaritans who stepped in during an anti-muslim tirade is a known white supremacist. Police on Saturday morning arrested Jeremy Christian on two charges of aggravated murder, one charge of attempted murder, two charges of intimidation and a weapons charge. Mercury Doug Brown reporter snapped this photo of Christian giving a Nazi salute during a right-wing rally last month: