(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 9/12/2022) – The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today welcomed a federal hate crime investigation into the vandalism and robbery of a mosque in St. Cloud, Minn.
The FBI is reportedly reviewing Thursday’s attack on the St. Cloud Islamic Center as a possibly bias-motivated crime.
Two suspects were arrested within hours of the attack. The two reportedly smashed a window, damaged floor tiles and littered beer cans and cigarette butts inside the mosque. They were reportedly found to have stolen two copies of the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, and three cassette tapes with what is believed to be Arabic writing on them.
Both suspects are currently being held on charges of felony second-degree burglary of a government, religious, historic or school building. Anyone with more information on the incident is urged to contact St. Cloud police.
SEE: Two Charged in Connection to Islamic Center Break In
https://knsiradio.com/2022/09/12/two-charged-in-connection-to-islamic-center-break-in/
FBI Reviewing St. Cloud Mosque Vandalism As a Bias Motivated Crime
https://www.kvsc.org/st-cloud-mosque-vandalized-thursday-two-face-felony-charges/
In a statement, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said:
“We welcome the arrest of the suspected perpetrators of this disturbing attack on a house of worship and thank the FBI for investigating a possible bias motive for the incident. Every community should be able to feel safe and secure in their houses of worship, and threats to that safety and security must be taken seriously and addressed properly by law enforcement authorities.”
He noted that the vandalism and burglary of the St. Cloud Islamic Center occurred less than a week after the Tawfiq Islamic Center in Minneapolis was similarly vandalized and burglarized.
SEE: TODAY: CAIR-MN to Respond to Attack on Minneapolis Mosque, Seek Info from Community
CAIR-MN called for stepped-up police patrols around mosques following the vandalism and burglary of the St. Cloud Islamic Center last week.
SEE: Sept. 9: CAIR-MN to Call for Stepped-Up Police Patrols After Attack on St. Cloud Mosque
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CONTACT: CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein, 612-206-3360, jhussein@cair.com