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Mother of attacker had no idea he was attending rally

The mother of the man believed to have driven into a crowd of people during the clashes in Charlottesville over the weekend was unaware that her son was attending an extremist rally.

James Alex Fields Jr., 20. Photo: Charlottesville Police Department/Handout via Reuters

James Alex Fields Jr., 20. Photo: Charlottesville Police Department/Handout via Reuters

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The mother of the man believed to have driven into a crowd of people during the clashes in Charlottesville over the weekend was unaware that her son was attending an extremist rally.

James Alex Fields (picture) was arrested for allegedly steering his car into a group of people protesting against the white nationalist rally, killing one. The authorities, however, declined to say publicly that Fields, 20, was the driver.

Police have not yet provided a motive for the incident, but the authorities have opened a civil rights investigation into the crash, a Federal Bureau of Investigation field office said. The accused is being held without bail and is scheduled to be charged in court today.

Ms Samantha Bloom, Fields’ mother, told the Toledo Blade newspaper that her son said last week that he was planning to attend the “alt-right” rally in Virginia, but she insisted she was unaware of its extremist nature.

“I thought it had something to do with (President Donald) Trump,” she said. “I try to stay out of his political views,” Ms Bloom said. “I don’t get too involved.

“I told him to be careful,” she added. “(And) if they’re going to rally, to make sure he’s doing it peacefully.”

Ms Bloom revealed that her son moved out of her home a few months ago to his own apartment, and her neighbours said that they did not know much about Fields while he was living with his mother.

Mr Bob Rose, who lives two doors away from Ms Bloom, said he never spoke to Fields.

“It’s shocking to know it’s that close to you,” Mr Rose told Toledo Blade.

“I’ve never spoken with the gentleman (Fields), I don’t know anything about him,” he said. “You just never know. Until you get the whole story, you can assume what you want. Was he there to cause mayhem? Was he a white supremacist? I don’t know.”

If he does hold extremist views, Mr Rose added, “I don’t want to know him.” AGENCIES

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