Alexandria Teen Pleads Guilty To Terror-Related Slashing Of A Florence Township Police Officer

Sunday, January 25, 2026, 7:30 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ.- A 17-year-old Alexandria, Virginia, man will be facing 18 years in New Jersey State Prison when he is sentenced in March, after pleading guilty to a terror-related attempted murder of a Florence Township Police Officer, and assaulting two other Police Officers during a vehicle collision investigation in March 2025, in the Township.

     According to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Fasihullah Safar, 17, of Alexandria, Virginia, appeared in Burlington County Superior Court and pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Aimee Belgard to first-degree Attempted Murder; second-degree Aggravated Assault; third-degree Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer; and third-degree Theft of a Motor Vehicle.

     In return for the guilty plea, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Safar be sentenced to 18 years in New Jersey State Prison. Safar was originally charged as a juvenile, and in September 2025, the case was waived up to adult criminal court. Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Belgard accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2026.

     According to the charging information filed with the Superior Court, on March 21, 2025, at around 4:30 p.m., after Safar intentionally struck a Florence Township Police patrol vehicle multiple times while the Police Officer was responding to a 911 Emergency Call reporting an overturned vehicle.

     Following striking the Police vehicle, Safar’s vehicle became inoperable on Route 130 near Station Road in the Township. When additional Police Officers arrived at the scene, Safar ran toward them aggressively, swinging a knife and stabbing a Police Officer multiple times in the chest area, but because the Officer was wearing his protective vest, he was not seriously injured.

     Safar refused to surrender and had to be subdued. One of the Police Officers suffered a laceration to his face and chest and required medical attention. Two other Police Officers received minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Safar was uninjured, except for a cut on his finger from his knife. 

     During the ensuing investigation, Investigators determined that Safar caused the first collision that the Police Officer was initially responding to when Safar struck his Patrol Vehicle.

     During Thursday’s plea allocution, Safar told Superior Court Judge Aimee Belgard that in the months leading up to the incident, he had begun to follow an Islamic State terrorist organization, formally referred to as ISIS. He indicated on Social Media that he had planned on joining the organization and stated that becoming a terrorist would enable him to defend his religion. In response to questioning by his Public Defender, Safar admitted to screaming “Allahu Akbar” during the confrontation with Police Officers and stated that his intention was to kill one of the Officers in an effort to promote terrorism.

     “We stand with the Florence Township Police Officers who were targeted in this senseless and cowardly act of violence,” Prosecutor Bradshaw stated. “Violence driven by hatred or intolerance has no place here and will be met with the full force of the law. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to protecting every resident from violent, hateful acts.”