Philadelphia cop 'shot by Daesh sympathizer'

A man who shot a police officer in his patrol car has pledged his allegiance to Daesh terrorist group, the Sky News cited police as saying on Saturday.

Police Captain James Clark said the alleged shooter, Edward Archer, pledges his allegiance to Daesh.

Officer Jesse Hartnett was seriously wounded after being shot three times in the arm in the apparently unprovoked ambush.

It was described by police as an "attempted assassination".

Officer Hartnett shouted "I'm bleeding heavily" into his radio before managing to chase and wound the suspect with a shot to the buttock. Archer's condition is unknown.

The arrested man, who lives in Philadelphia and has a criminal record, fired a total of 11 shots that hit the officer and his car, police said.

Commissioner Ross said Archer carried out the attack "in the name of Islam" but there was no evidence that he had worked with anyone else.

Investigators believe Archer traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and to Egypt in 2012, FBI special agent Eric Ruona said, and the purpose of that travel was being investigated by the FBI. But police said there was no indication anyone else was involved in the officer's ambush.

Archer told police he believed the police department defends laws that are contrary to Islam.

Source: MENA