Security Measures Enhanced after Minneapolis Mosque Receives Threat

IQNA – Security measures have been enhanced at a mosque in Minneapolis, US state of Minnesota, after it received a threat last week.  

It also forces the mosque to cancel most programming this past weekend.

Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center was threatened on social media on the evening of Friday, December 13, according to Mohamed Ali, the mosque’s executive director.

The Minneapolis Police Department arrived at the mosque that night and alerted them to a threatening post on TikTok, Mohamed said. The mosque remained open for prayers, but cancelled all other instructional classes and community events for the weekend. A message about the threat went out to hundreds of mosque attendees.

“There is going to be trauma,” Mohamed said Tuesday, adding that a threat makes many Muslims think of the Christchurch massacre of 2019, when a shooter killed 51 worshippers at Friday prayers at two mosques in New Zealand.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara met with mosque members on Saturday, and extra police patrols were deployed in the area. The police told the mosque they believed it was safe to resume normal activities late Sunday, Mohamed said.

The police’s threat assessment team investigated and determined the threat was not credible, said police spokesman Sergeant Garrett Parten.

Neither police nor mosque officials shared the specific nature of the threat.

Abubakar As-Saddique is one of the largest mosques in Minnesota, and serves as a community center for people in the area, according to Imam Mowlid Ali. Regular attendees come to pray multiple times a day, and youth spend hours in classes and activities on the property.

Source: sahanjournal.com