Threat against Islamic Center in Florida Forces Police to Respond
The Islamic Center of Daytona Beach was targeted Friday, one of "multiple threats" made against mosques across the state, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.
It was the second threat made against the Islamic Center in two days.
Daytona Beach police responded to a call Friday at 1:45 p.m. after receiving a report of a bomb threat that was "determined to be false," according to public information officer Carrie McCallister.
"The mosque was cleared and there are no current concerns for the safety of its worshipers or the general public in the area," she said in an emailed statement. "However, law enforcement will maintain a presence."
However, Roy McGee, a Daytona Beach Muslim who's been a member of the Keech Street mosque since around 1990, gave a different account. He said he and other men were in a prayer service and listening to a lecture between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Friday when they were alerted that a threat had been made.
McGee, who's in charge of maintenance at the mosque, said he was told that a man called the Midtown neighborhood house of worship and said he was in the parking lot and was going to shoot the police if they came to the small facility.
At least four police officers arrived at the mosque, and they didn't find any suspects on the property, he said. Officers suspected it was a hoax call and didn't evacuate the building, McGee said.
"There was nothing to it," he said.
McGee said he was told the caller didn't say anything Friday about a bomb. He said the same caller is believed to have made threats to other mosques as well. McCallister, the police spokeswoman, gave a similar account on that point.
"This is one of multiple threats made in reference to mosques in Florida," she wrote.
Source: eu.news-journalonline.com
