A suspect has ignited a fire at the Dar-Alfaruq Islamic Center, prompting an investigation by local authorities as the community seeks answers.
Minneapolis, MN – The football field at Masjid Dar Alfaruq was set on fire yesterday shortly after the Friday Muslim prayer, raising significant concerns within the community about a potential hate crime. Mosque leaders suspect the incident may have been an act of arson.
CCTV footage from the mosque shows a white man running from the area just before the fire ignited. The footage has been provided to the authorities, and an investigation is underway. The police have not yet classified the incident as an arson attack, as their investigation is still ongoing.
The fire destroyed a storage unit on the premises, which housed various equipment for community activities, including youth sports.
Khalid Omar, a representative of the mosque, expressed the emotional toll the incident has taken on the community. “It’s a very difficult time and the community is still on edge,” he said, emphasizing the distress and uncertainty felt by members of the Islamic center.
In response to the incident, Dar Alfaruq will hold a solidarity event tomorrow evening at 6. P.M. at Dar Alfaruq Islamic Center to address the community and provide updates on the situation. Meanwhile, police continue their investigation but have not released further details.
This incident occurred less than two weeks after the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where two children were killed and 21 others injured, including 18 children and three adults. The deceased children were identified as 8-year-old Fletcher Alexander Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Lillian Moyski.
The community is rallying together during this challenging time, with leaders emphasizing the importance of unity and resilience in the face of adversity. The mosque remains a vital hub for social and spiritual gatherings.
This is not the first time the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center has faced violence. On August 5, 2017, the center was targeted in a pipe bomb attack when a homemade explosive was thrown into the building during morning prayers. Although the attack caused damage, there were no injuries. The assailant, Emily Claire Hari, was convicted and sentenced to 53 years in prison, while accomplices Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris pleaded guilty and received sentences of over 14 years for their roles in the attack.
