Category Archives: Anti-Muslim violence

Bomb threat against Murfreesboro Islamic Center

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Not WelcomeAuthorities say an anonymous caller threatened to detonate a bomb inside a mosque in Tennessee on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

According to a police report, an unidentified person made the threat Monday in a voicemail left at the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. The report says the message included extreme profanities and derogatory remarks toward Muslims.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans told The Associated Press on Wednesday that security at the mosque has been increased and that marked and unmarked vehicles are patrolling the area. Evans says federal authorities are helping in the investigation.

The mosque has been the target of vandals who defaced signs at the site where it plans to build a bigger site of worship. Last year, arsonists also torched construction equipment there.

Associated Press, 7 September 2011

See also Daily News Journal and News Channel 5.

And see “Tenn. 9/11 event features anti-Islamic speakers”, Associated Press, 7 September 2011

The EDL after Tower Hamlets

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anti-EDL demonstrators Tower Hamlets
Anti-EDL demonstrators in Tower Hamlets on Saturday

By any standards, the English Defence League’s attempt to hold an intimidatory protest against the Muslim community of Tower Hamlets on Saturday was a failure.

The state ban on the EDL’s march, which reduced them to holding a static demonstration instead, not only dissuaded some of their supporters from attending the protest (a number of divisions complained that they had been unable to fill the coaches they had hired) but also created considerable logistical problems for the EDL leadership. The RMT’s threat to close down Liverpool Street station if the EDL gathered there, and the announcement by pubs in Camden that they would refuse to host the EDL, left Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll scrabbling around for a place to assemble their troops before entering the East End for the planned rally.

As it turned out, the EDL didn’t even get into Tower Hamlets anyway. The police penned them in at Aldgate, in the City of London, just short of the borough border. With the local community and its supporters having mobilised en masse against the EDL, the police no doubt reasoned that an attempt to hold an EDL rally in Tower Hamlets itself would have resulted in serious public disorder.

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Settlers set fire to West Bank mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A mosque in the West Bank village of Qusra, south of Nablus, was set on fire Monday morning, hours after Israeli police officers destroyed three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron.

According to Palestinian sources, a group of settlers arrived at the village mosque at approximately 3 A.M., threw burning tires toward it, and broke several of its windows. The event is the latest in a series of clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the region.

Haaretz, 5 September 2011

College student facing mosque attack charges has bail relaxed

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Kingston College student accused of being part of a gang who allegedly attacked Kingston mosque has had his bail relaxed to allow him to continue his studies.

James Stacey, 18, of Ashhurst Drive, Shepperton, is one of nine defendants facing trial at Kingston Crown Court in September for the attack on November 21 last year. He was among six men at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 25, who have denied charges of affray and religiously aggravated criminal damage.

Three men have already been committed to the Crown Court. All nine men were banned from entering the borough of Kingston at an earlier hearing as part of their bail conditions.

Jordan Ellingham, 21, of Camden Avenue, Feltham, Martin Pottle, 22, of Eldridge Close, Feltham, Karl Mathews, 20, of High Street, Brentford, Terence Earl, 31, of Aspen Lane, Northolt and Adam Khalfan, Feltham Road, Ashford, will have a hearing on September 22 before a trial.

They will be joined by Paul Abley, 24, of Hounslow Road, Shepperton, Alfie Wallace, 18, of Hetherington Road, Shepperton and David Morris, 20, of Elm Way, Epsom.

Kingston Guardian, 27 August 2011

Four charged over EDL attack on Plymouth kebab shop

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Four people are to appear at court next month on charges relating to an alleged attack on a Kurdish family in their takeaway shop.

The four were arrested on the afternoon of July 31 after police were called to the Istanbul Kebab shop in Exeter Street.

The four, who were said to have previously been at the nearby Wild Coyote pub – which has since been renamed the East End Bar – returned to answer their bail yesterday when they were charged.

Hayley Well, aged 27, from Shell Close, Leigham has been charged with racially aggravated common assault by beating.

Kelly Watterson, aged 28, from St Peters Road in Manadon, is charged with racially aggravated affray and racially aggravated common assault by beating.

Michael Rafferty, aged 33, from Queen Street, Devonport has been charged with obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of his duty.

Ricky Burley, aged 43, from High Street, Stonehouse has been charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour and obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of his duty.

All four have been released on bail to reappear at Plymouth Magistrates Court on September 7.

Until their appearance, they have been given conditions which include not going within 100 metres of the Istanbul Kebab Takeaway in Exeter Street.

Plymouth Herald, 27 August 2011

Man charged with firebombing Oregon mosque described himself as a ‘Christian warrior’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cody CrawfordThe 24-year-old man being held in last year’s firebombing of an Oregon mosque ranted about Muslims and referred to himself as a “Christian warrior” weeks after the arrest of a Muslim man accused of plotting to set off a car bomb in Portland, according to court documents.

Cody Crawford was arrested Wednesday night in the Nov. 28 firebombing in Corvallis. He was indicted on charges of damaging religious property for racial reasons, which is a hate crime, and using fire to commit a felony.

Court documents show that three weeks after the mosque firebombing, in unrelated encounters with police, Crawford ranted about Muslims, said Christians are capable of jihad and told an officer he resembled President Barack Obama. “You look like Obama. You are a Muslim like him. Jihad goes both ways. Christians can jihad too,” a court document quotes Crawford as telling a McMinnville officer Dec. 14.

The document says Crawford told officers “only Christians could understand him, that he was a Christian warrior that they were persecuting,” and that “you will never know the truth about the mosque.” Crawford also said he did not torch the mosque, according to the affidavit.

He had been arrested Dec. 14 after causing a disturbance at a gas station by shining a flashlight at a car, “talking about terrorists and Muslims,” and telling a witness he would “come back and kill you if you call the cops,” according to the document.

Associated Press, 26 August 2011

Can we take it that if Crawford is convicted Fox News etc will describe him as a “Christian terrorist”?

Update:  See Adam Serwer, “Alleged Oregon arsonist on ‘secret Muslims’ and ‘Christian warriors'”, American Prospect, 26 August 2011

Man accused of hate crime in Oregon mosque arson

Posted on by Bob Pitt

CORVALLIS — Federal law enforcement authorities arrested Cody Seth Crawford, 24, Wednesday night on a federal hate crimes indictment in what they say was a racially motivated arson at a Corvallis mosque.

The arrest comes eight months after the Nov. 28 firebombing of the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center at 610 N.W. Kings Boulevard in Corvallis. Authorities quickly determined the fire, which burned the office of the mosque, was an arson.

The Oregonian, 25 August 2011

Update:   See “Suspect in Corvallis mosque firebombing will remain in jail, judge orders”, The Oregonian, 25 August 2011

Alleged mosque bombing plotter not fit for trial, judge finds

Posted on by Bob Pitt

DETROIT — A Wayne County Judge on Monday ruled Roger Stockham, the California man accused of making terrorist threats toward the Islamic Center of America, is not mentally competent to stand trial.

Stockham is charged with making terrorist threats and possession of illegal explosives with unlawful intent. He now will remain in custody at a mental institution until he is either rehabilitated enough to stand trial or is committed to the facility.

Dearborn Police arrested Stockham in January in the Islamic Center’s parking lot with a paper grocery bag full of some legal and illegal fireworks. A local pub manager who said Stockham had just left his bar after threatening an explosion at a mosque alerted police.

Stockham’s mental competency has been the source of differing opinions since the case against him began in January. His first court-appointed attorney requested a competency exam, but was subsequently rejected as counsel by Stockham. Then, Evans stepped in and didn’t see any issue with Stockham’s mental state.

But after Stockham sent a letter to Islamic Center officials while he was in custody, Wayne County Judge Bruce Morrow ordered a competency hearing.

A Vietnam veteran and diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder sufferer, Stockham has a lengthy history of mental issues. At his arraignment in 19th District Court, Stockham’s initial court-appointed attorney – who he subsequently rejected – re-quested a mental competency exam.

Dearborn Press & Guide, 23 August 2011

Southend: man attacked as he visits mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man visiting a mosque for early morning prayers was attacked by a teenager in the street.

The 46-year-old was walking towards the Essex Jamme Masjid Mosque, in Chelmsford Avenue, when he was set on by a boy aged about 15. The boy was part of a group of four youths of similar ages.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face and has been very shaken up by the unprovoked attack. It happened at about 4.15am on Tuesday August 16 and police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the local neighbourhood police team on 101, extension 470123, or to call the police beat mobile number, 07817 968114.

If you are calling from outside Essex, please call 0300 333 4444 or you can leave information anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Echo, 23 August 2011

Via ENGAGE

Four found guilty of Redbridge mosque attack

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Four thugs who bombarded a mosque and an imam with bricks in a racist attack are facing jail.

The group of youths tried to storm Redbridge Islamic Centre, Eastern Avenue, Redbridge, after taunting worshippers arriving for evening prayers with racist chants. The front window was smashed and the imam Shafeel Begg was hit by a brick as he tried to pursue them on March 24.

Rocky Beale, 21, of Purleigh Avenue, Woodford Green, Eliot Jones, 19, of no fixed address, Matthew Stephenson, 18, of Burrow Road, Hainault and a 16-year-old who cannot be named because of his age, were convicted of violent disorder at Snaresbrook Crown Court after just 90 minutes deliberation by the jury on Wednesday. They will be sentenced on September 28.

Two others, Daniel Leal, 19, of Queenborough Gardens, Gants Hill and Ryan Jones, 23, of no fixed address were cleared of violent disorder after a two-week trial.

Pam Oon, prosecuting, said the 16-year-old “threw a brick, which smashed the front window of the mosque”. He and another of the attackers then ran inside, and Mr Begg and caretaker Mohammed Wahud gave chase.

“In the process the caretaker was injured by some broken glass,” said Ms Oon. “When the imam and the caretaker came out of the mosque, the youths were still throwing bricks and shouting abuse, before they ran down Eastern Avenue towards Redbridge Tube station.”

Ilford Recorder, 19 August 2011

Via ENGAGE