A man charged with stabbing two people to death on a train after they intervened to stop his anti-Muslim rant against two women appeared in court shouting: “You call it terrorism, I call it patriotism!”
Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, faces aggravated murder and other charges over the incident in Portland, Oregon, on Friday.
During a brief appearance at Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland yesterday, Christian made repeated outbursts, saying: “You’ve got no safe place!” and “Death to the enemies of America!”
He did not enter a plea.
The attack took place after the suspect began spewing “hate speech” towards two young women on a train, police said. Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53, intervened and were fatally stabbed.
Micah Fletcher, 21, was also stabbed but survived and was in court, his healing neck wound clearly visible.
Detectives are investigating Christian’s background of extremist ideology.
At a rally in April, he was filmed performing a Nazi salute while wearing an American flag as a cape.
The case was adjourned to June 7.
