Fire at Minneapolis Mosque Prompts Call for Investigation
The blaze broke out on the evening of September 29 at the basement entrance of the mosque, located on East 32nd Street. Security footage showed an unidentified person leaving the area moments before flames appeared at the doorway.
The mosque, which also operates a daycare, was occupied at the time.
The fire was quickly contained thanks to the brick structure of the building, and no injuries were reported. While damage was limited, concerns have been raised about whether the mosque and its community were deliberately targeted.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) announced it would hold a press conference outside the mosque at noon on September 30. The organization described the incident as troubling, citing a rise in attacks on houses of worship.
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In a statement, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said the fire appeared to reflect a recurring pattern of targeting mosques in Minnesota.
“It appears once again, a Minnesota mosque has been targeted. We are deeply concerned about the rise in arsons and attempted attacks on our houses of worship,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein.
He urged authorities to investigate promptly and to assess whether the fire was driven by bias or hate.
Hussein also called on community leaders to enhance security measures, noting that faith centers in the city had recently faced violence, including a mass shooting at a Minneapolis church earlier this month.
The incident comes as Minnesota continues to address earlier mosque attacks. Last week, Minneapolis resident Jackie Rahm Little, 38, pleaded guilty in federal court to setting fires at two mosques in 2023. He admitted to arson and damaging religious property.
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According to court documents, Little first set a cardboard box ablaze in a restroom at Masjid Omar Islamic Center on April 23, 2023. Mosque members quickly extinguished the flames. The next day, surveillance cameras recorded him entering Masjid Al-Rahma in Bloomington, known as Mercy Center, carrying a gasoline can. A fire later erupted on the third floor, forcing the evacuation of about 50 children from the mosque’s daycare. That blaze caused significant damage but no injuries.
Prosecutors said Little faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison for arson. They recommended a term between 63 and 78 months, along with $378,000 in restitution. Sentencing has been set for January 20.
Source: Agencies
