The attack aboard a light-rail train happened Friday, the first day of Ramadan, the holiest time of the year for Muslims. Authorities say Jeremy Joseph Christian started verbally abusing two young women, including one wearing a hijab. When three men on the train intervened, police say, Christian attacked them, killing two and wounding one.

Christian, 35, was defiant during his brief initial court appearance Tuesday, shouting: “You call it terrorism. I call it patriotism!”

He made repeated outbursts saying “you’ve got no safe place!” and “death to the enemies of America!”

Christian, who faces aggravated murder and other charges, didn’t enter a plea. His next court date is June 7. He has been appointed public defenders. In a statement Lane Borg, the head of the local public defender agency, said the office was “saddened by this tragedy” but urged people to let the justice system take its course. Read more.

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