Edward Archer

Edward Archer is an American Islamist extremist. On January 7, 2016, the then-30-year-old fired at least 11 shots at Philadelphia police officer Jesse Hartnett using a stolen police gun. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told reporters that Archer carried out the attack because “[Archer] believed that the police defend laws that are contrary to the teachings of the Quran.” Hartnett was badly wounded but survived.Emily Shapiro, “Man Accused of Shooting Philly Cop Pledged Allegiance to ISIS, Police Say,” ABC News, January 8, 2016, http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-accused-shooting-philly-cop-confessed-committing-act/story?id=36169588. Archer was convicted of the attack, and sentenced to 48.5 to 97 years in state prison.Chris Palmer, “Gunman Who Pledged Allegiance to ISIS After Shooting Philly Cop Sentenced to Almost 50 Years in Prison,” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2018, https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/crime/edward-archer-sentencing-isis-police-shooting-philadelphia-jesse-hartnett-20180514.html.

Archer had reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS.Emily Shapiro, “Man Accused of Shooting Philly Cop Pledged Allegiance to ISIS, Police Say,” ABC News, January 8, 2016, http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-accused-shooting-philly-cop-confessed-committing-act/story?id=36169588. He later told detectives, “I follow Allah. I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State, and that’s why I did what I did.” His mother said that Archer had been “hearing voices in his head” and that he required medical attention.“Police: Gunman who shot cop pledged allegiance to the Islamic State,” Philly.com, January 10, 2016, http://articles.philly.com/2016-01-10/news/69618068_1_police-officer-islamic-state-wounded-officer.

After the shooting, Archer was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of an instrument of crime with intent and weapons possession.“Alleged Pa. cop shooter arraigned, denied bail,” Fox News, January 9, 2016, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/01/09/fbi-investigating-alleged-pa-cop-shooters-trips-to-middle-east.html. At the time of the attack, Archer had been awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of forging documents and careless driving.“Police: Gunman who shot cop pledged allegiance to the Islamic State,” Philly.com, January 10, 2016, http://articles.philly.com/2016-01-10/news/69618068_1_police-officer-islamic-state-wounded-officer.

Archer had traveled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj in 2011 and to Egypt in 2012. He was not on any watch list.Emily Shapiro, “Man Accused of Shooting Philly Cop Pledged Allegiance to ISIS, Police Say,” ABC News, January 8, 2016, http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-accused-shooting-philly-cop-confessed-committing-act/story?id=36169588.

On February 1, 2018, Archer was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and several other charges stemming from the attack.Chris Palmer, “Gunman Who Pledged ISIS Allegiance Convicted in 2016 Shooting of Philly Cop,” Philadelphia Enquirer, February 1, 2018, https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/crime/isis-inspired-gunman-guilty-shooting-philadelphia-cop-jesse-hartnett-20180201.html. On May 14, 2018, he was sentenced to 48.5 to 97 years in state prison, the maximum allowable under law.Chris Palmer, “Gunman Who Pledged Allegiance to ISIS After Shooting Philly Cop Sentenced to Almost 50 Years in Prison,” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2018, https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/crime/edward-archer-sentencing-isis-police-shooting-philadelphia-jesse-hartnett-20180514.html. He is currently incarcerated at Forest State Correctional Institution in Marienville, Pennsylvania.“NK0791 – Edward Archer,” Inmate Search – Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, accessed April 7, 2021, http://inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov/#/Result.

Extremist entity
ISIS
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Homegrown conspirator

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Rhetoric
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Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

In Their Own Words:

We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].

Abu Ali al-Askari, Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) Security Official Mar. 2023
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