Now released charging document shows white supremacist suspect allegedly admired San Diego mosque shooter
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) today called on politicians in that state to renounce anti-Muslim hate in the wake of an alleged plot to carry out a mass killing at a mosque, and the release of charging documents indicating the suspect admired the attackers who killed three at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
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Giovanni Pimienta, 19, is charged with sending, posting or transmitting a written or electronic threat to kill or do bodily harm and making a false report concerning a bomb, explosive or weapon of mass destruction or the use of a firearm in a violent manner. Charging documents reveal that he was “actively communicating with others […] about obtaining weapons and conducting a mass shooting at a mosque.”
He also reportedly published a manifesto containing “personal reflections, ideological arguments, calls for social collapse, praise of violence, and promotion of white supremacists, antisemitic, anti-Black, anti-Muslim, accelerationist viewpoints, and praising the actions of Caleb Vasquez, who perpetrated a deadly attack against the Islamic Center of San Diego.”
SEE: Venice man planned mass shooting at church, wanted to attack mosque: FDLE | WFLA
In a statement, CAIR-FL said:
“Anti-Muslim is rising at an alarming rate in Florida and throughout the nation. This hate is being stoked and enabled by many influential voices in politics and the media. This hate can easily lead to acts of violence, as it almost did in this disturbing case and in San Diego. We call on elected officials in Florida to repudiate anti-Muslim bigotry and condemn all those who promote this vile, violent ideology. Elected officials should also reach out to the targeted mosque and stand in solidarity with the Florida Muslim community.”
Yesterday, CAIR-FL welcomed the charges against the suspect.
SEE: CAIR-FL Welcomes Arrest for Alleged Planned Mass Shooting Targeting Mosque
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]