ATLANTA – After what authorities say amounts to some 18 stabbings of which five were fatal, Israelite Elias Abuelazam was arrested at the Atlanta airport while trying to flee the US for his homeland Israel.

Since late May 2010, Abuelazam has been terrorizing people across  3 states by asking them for directions or help and then viciously attacking them with a knife.

The stabbings were so brutal, some victims who were stabbed five times, were left with stitches running along their bellies that are 10 inches long.  Five people Elias stabbed, died as a result of his violent assault.

Antwione Marshall, 26, of Flint – Michigan, one of the surviving victims of Abuelazam’s attacks, told The Associated Press that the FBI visited him at 3 a.m. to show him a picture of the man they arrested in Atlanta, and he identified him as the assailant.

Marshall said he was going into his apartment building when the assailant approached him and asked for help fixing his car. He was stabbed twice when he opened the hood. Three of his organs were cut, and he has a long scar from his chest to his pelvic area.

The reason for these attacks are currently unknown.  Most of Elias’ victims were black and authorities stipulate the assaults may have been racially motivated.  As of yet however, there is no proof of that.

Atlanta police said they responded to a request by Michigan State police to go to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where Abuelazam was ready to board a plane, destination Tel-Aviv Israel.   Police arrested him at the boarding gate shortly before takeoff.  Nearby travelers said six police officers led him away without incident.

All in all Abuelazam may have stabbed as many as 18 people.  In Flint he assaulted 14 people and in Leesburg Virginia, he stabbed 3 people.  Authorities say there may possibly be more victims.

His MO was very similar for each assault he carried out:

Abuelazam would approach black men late at night on lonely urban roads and asked for directions or help with a broken-down car. Then, without warning, he pulled out a knife and struck. Then, he sped away, leaving them for dead.

The brazen nature and the frequency of the attacks – the assailant struck an average of about once every four days since the first stabbing in May – has terrified some of those in cities he’s already targeted.

The youngest victim was 17; the oldest was 60. They ranged in size from 5-foot-4 inches and 120 pounds to 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds.

For the people whose lives have been shattered by these vicious and unprevoked attacks, Elias Abuelazam’s arrest may offer them some peace of mind knowing he’ll end up where he belongs and won’t hurt other individuals.

Still; Antwione Marshall says he wants to retaliate but “I’ll let God handle it. Every time I look at my scar, I get angry.“

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