Suspect in US workplace beheading charged with murder

The suspect in a workplace attack in Oklahoma in which a woman was beheaded has been charged with first degree murder, the prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Alton Nolen, 30, also faced an assault charge in the attack in which another woman was stabbed multiple times.

The prosecutor, Greg Mashburn, also said it was likely he would seek the death penalty against Nolen.

The FBI was investigating whether the attack, which occurred on Thursday at Vaughn Foods Company in Moore, Oklahoma, was linked to terrorism.

Mashburn said the suspect had expressed extremist views on his Facebook page, where he posted pictures of beheadings, videos of anti-American rants and picture of Osama bin Laden.

“He had some sort of infatuation with beheading,” Mashburn said at a news conference.

He added that it appeared to be an isolated incident triggered by his suspension earlier in the day.

Reports said the woman who was beheaded was Colleen Hufford, 54, the co-worker who was stabbed, while Traci Johnson, 43, remained hospitalised.

The attack was stopped when Nolen was shot by a company official, Mark Vaughn, who is also a part-time sheriff’s deputy.

Nolen was still being treated in hospital for those injuries.

However, Nolen’s mother and sister posted a video message on Facebook over the weekend saying Nolen was raised up in a loving home.

They said their “hearts bleed” over the accusations made against him.