A threat forced a south Minneapolis mosque to cancel most programming this past weekend, and has leaders working to enhance security measures.
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.