my muslim friends felt a lot of anger about this and the way it was reported (which I have sympathy for),
In Australia, I clicked the first news link on the attack yesterday. 'Islamophohia' was mentioned twice, and it was as obvious it was being treated as a terrorist incident, the police response makes that certain.
So your friend was upset that it was instantly labeled as an anti Muslim attack by the media, and treated as a targeted terrorist incident by the law enforcement?? Touchy friend you have there.