A Saudi student studying in the United States has been charged with murdering a retired anthropology professor at Binghampton University in New York, Associated Press has reported.
Abdulsalam Al-Zahrani, 46, who was studying for a doctorate in cultural anthropology, was accused of stabbing to death Richard Antoun, 77, with a six-inch kitchen knife. He is being held without bail.
Witnesses say Zahrani confessed to the killing when police arrived at the scene.
U.S. press reported on Tuesday that Zahrani had previously approached Antoun concerned that he did not have funding to complete his course.
Colleagues said Antoun, who was of Lebanese descent, had educated people about Islam and had written books about fundamentalism. He was a specialist in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies.
Antoun had written several books, including “Understanding Fundamentalism: Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Movements”.
Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen said there was no indication of religious or ethnic motivation in the attack.