ST. PAUL -- After two men stole a safe from a mosque in St. Paul, the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter called on Monday for the FBI to investigate.
Officers who responded to Masjid Al-Ihsan Islamic Center in Frogtown on Sunday morning were told by a person who viewed security footage that it showed two males used keys to enter the building at 955 W. Minnehaha Ave., according to Sgt. Natalie Davis, a St. Paul police spokeswoman. The safe they stole contained $4,000 in cash, wallets and a checkbook, she said.
The burglary happened between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Sunday, according to a police report. No one was under arrest as of Monday afternoon.
The suspects drove a black pick-up truck without a front license plate, according to CAIR-MN.
“We’ve had now unprecedented level of attacks and vandalism against mosques in the state of Minnesota,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. “And while we still are unsure of the motive (for the burglary), this is … supposed to be a place that is safe and welcoming for everyone.”
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Imam Mohamed Mursal and Hussein asked anyone with information to come forward.
The suspects “did not respect the house of God, a place of worship, where people find peace and tranquility,” Mursal said. “… We don’t want to live in fear.”
Dai Thao, the city council member representing the area, said Masjid Al-Ihsan is a community gathering place.
“I’ll be working with the police department to ensure that we find justice and that as a community we stand shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
St. Paul police have increased patrols in the area, according to Davis.
The FBI “is aware of the issue and in touch with our local partners,” a spokesman said Monday.
CAIR-MN is working with mosque leaders throughout Minnesota to increase security precautions, Hussein said.
