Canadian Man Accused In Flint Airport Stabbing Denied Bond

FLINT (WWJ/AP) - A Canadian man accused of stabbing an airport police officer in Flint, Michigan, will remain in jail while his case proceeds.

Joan Morgan, an attorney for Amor Ftouhi, didn't object to the government's request that he stay in jail. She told a federal judge Wednesday that the 49-year-old defendant from Montreal would be held by U.S. immigration authorities even if granted bond in the criminal case.

Morgan declined to comment to reporters. Ftouhi wore a medical mask over his mouth and twice mumbled words as he entered court.

Ftouhi, a native of Tunisia, is charged with committing violence at an airport by stabbing Lt. Jeff Neville in the neck a week ago. Neville was released from the hospital Monday.

Authorities say Ftouhi stabbed Neville with a large knife after yelling "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great." According to the FBI, Ftouhi said something similar to "you have killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are all going to die."

Ftouhi was immediately taken into custody

The FBI says Ftouhi unsuccessfully tried to buy a gun once he arrived in the U.S. but instead managed to buy a 12-inch knife that had an 8-inch serrated blade.

© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.