Man 'who decapitated female colleague during knife rampage' at factory was 'Muslim convert'

Cops say Alton Nolen, 30, was angry after getting the sack before he launched the knife attack at Vaughan Foods in Oklahoma

A man suspected of beheading a female colleague during a knife rampage at the food processing plant where he worked was a Muslim convert, it has been revealed.

Cops say Alton Nolen, 30, was angry after getting the sack before he allegedly launched the knife attack at Vaughan Foods.

Reports from co-workers have said that the suspect, had recently started trying to convert several employees to Islam.

Chief Operating Officer Mark Vaughn, who is also a reserve police officer, has been hailed a hero after shooting Nolen as he reportedly started stabbing another woman.

Police say Alton Alexander Nolen drove to the Vaughan Foods processing plant in Moore, about 10 miles south of Oklahoma City late on Thursday afternoon after he was fired from his job.

After forcing his way in around 4.15pm he attacked Colleen Hufford, 54, cutting off her head.

The 30-year-old then tried to kill another women, Traci Johnson, 43, before the owner and reserve county officer Mark Vaughan fired several shots to subdue him.

Nolen was taken a hospital, where he remained today but he is expected to survive.

Johnson was described as being in critical condition.

Police said both Nolen's victims were attacked at random, adding there was no immediate link to terrorism.

They did however add they had received statements from a number of staff saying he had been trying to convince employees to convert to Islam.

It remained unclear whether this is why the company terminated his employment.

It later emerged Nolen was previously arrested on a slew of charges, including possession of a controlled substance, assault and battery on a police officer and escape from detention.

Moore Police Sergeant Jeremy Lewis confirmed the suspect, who has not been charged, had been fired from Vaughan Foods.

Describing Mr Vaughan as a hero he added: "It could have gotten a lot worse. This guy wasn't going to stop."

He added Moore police have asked the FBI to aid in the investigation and look into the suspect's background.

Moore, a small town with about 57,000 residents, hit the headlines last year after it was left devastated by a massive tornado in 2013.

Twenty-four people were killed in the twister.