HUNTINGTON BEACH – A California teenager was stabbed twice by three suspects in Huntington Beach as he walked home with his brother-in-law, saying he was targeted for speaking Arabic.

“Was it like a racial issue? Is it because we were speaking Arabic or it can be like just the way we look,” Karam Jarrah, 17, told ABC 7 on Tuesday, March 1.

According to news reports, Jarrah was stabbed outside a Huntington Beach gym last Sunday afternoon.

Police said that the Jarrah and his brother-in-law, Asem Dghem, were walking in front of the gym when an argument started with two men and women in a vehicle.

The three are married couple Jessica Roman, 27, and Martin Roman, 25, and Arthur Roman, 28, whom police later identified as an Illinois police officer. Martin and Arthur are brothers.

The attack started when the brother-in laws walked by the three suspects sitting in their car.

“He was like, ‘What’s up ‘obamabam?’ I don’t even know what that means,” Jarrah recalled. “So, I said, ‘What?’ and he said, ‘What’s up ‘obamabam?’ He said it like he was mad.”

Jarrah’s brother-in-law Asem Dghem said the suspects got angry out of the blue.

“I came back very, very nicely, because we have faced this type of situation before,” Dghem said.

The confrontation turned violent quickly when Martin Roman allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Jarrah.

“When I stood up, it was just like a fountain squirting blood, like blood everywhere,” said Jarrah, who was transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries.

Fleeing the area, the three were arrested a short time later.

Jessica and Martin were reportedly released after posting $25,000 bail, while Arthur had to post $100,000 bail as he is from out of state, police say.

Jarrah and his family said they can’t believe a cop was part of the violent attack.

“They have to actually protect us, not stab us,” Dghem said.

“He’s a police officer, actually, he’s supposed to be role model.”

Muslims make up 1% of America’s 322 million population, according to Pew Research center.

Anti-Muslim sentiments have flared by Republican presidential candidates, such as Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson.

Trump’s views on immigration have sparked controversy nationwide, especially his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US.