Intelligence document: U.S. Muslim community may be target of hate crimes

By: Emily Rand
Topics: Terrorism

By Chris Zawistowski, CBS Investigates Intern

Tensions stemming from the death of Osama Bin Laden and uprisings throughout the Middle East may result in attacks on Muslim-based groups in the United States, according to an advisory from the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center.

The New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center wrote in the advisory that it has no specific information regarding a credible threat against religious organizations or facilities at this time.

However, several recent crimes against Muslim facilities and organizations around the country have put law enforcement officials on the lookout for further incidents.

This past Saturday, at least three masked men---caught on surveillance video---attempted to burn down the Madrasah Islamiah Mosque in Southwest Houston, Texas, igniting several prayer rugs in the main prayer room.

No injuries were reported in the suspected arson attempt and there was no significant damage to the building, according to a spokesperson for the Houston Fire Department.

The Houston Fire Department is investigating the crime but the spokesperson said there are "no indicators as this point to suggest the incident was a hate crime."

The FBI and ATF are also monitoring the investigation but are not actively involved.

A mosque in Shreveport, La., was vandalized on May 9 when pork-which is considered unclean by Muslims-was discovered on the door handles of the building. Additionally, derogatory phrases like "Osama today, Islam tomorrow" were spray-painted on a mosque in Portland, Maine on May 2.

And in New Jersey, two incidents on May 5 have law enforcement officials on alert for other incidents. The Paterson-based American Arab Forum received a threatening phone call from an unknown individual and in Atlantic City a Koran was removed from a mosque and found in the trash several days later.

With one of the fastest growing Arab populations in the United States and tensions rising since the death of Bin Laden, the advisory tells law enforcement officials and community leaders throughout the state to "maintain vigilance and recognize behaviors indicating potential extremist activity."

Police and other law enforcement officials are warned to be on look out for potential indicators of criminal activity, such as an increase in threats from unidentified sources, surveillance of facilities, security posts, and entry/exit points, and unattended backpacks, briefcases or other items.

Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said there has been a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment since the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Hooper said that international events have sparked incidents against Muslims in the past but finds it strange that the death of Osama Bin Laden would elicit such negative reactions from many across the nation.

"I guess any kind of international event brings out the worst in some people," he said. "It's quite disturbing."

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by misspam1 May 26, 2011 5:39 PM EDT: To nadiasindi, I am sorry you had to endure such devastation. Please look at the situation with your eyes wide open. People think as a collective unit sometimes. I am not by any means in agreement with any of the horrible things you experienced but as an American, I am leery of Arabs. I'm sorry. It's just the way it is. I prefer to be honest about the issue. I see a change slowly but surely happening in America and I cannot say that I am comfortable with this change. Call it ignorance or prejudice, that's fair. In my area there has been an influx of Arabs and Indians and a lot of people I know are not happy about it. If any of them were to start trouble towards any of these people I would not be a part of anything like this. It's wrong. But I can't say I am pleased. My property value has sunk and unfortunately a few of the businesses they have opened in the area are considered seedy and nasty. This is the consensus. The customer service factor is a major concern. The rudeness and bad quality in the products and services is another. Then at the end of the day they put bars on their business doors and hurry off to the exclusive suburbs after a day of selling bad pork and over priced liquor. I work in a grocery store not far from where I live and recently there has been any number of these same business men come in my store and buy an abundance of soda pop when it is on sale to take back to their stores and sell for almost twice the price. They use food stamps to purchase these items. They barely speak English. They are impatient and rude. When you tell them about the company policy limit on items, they get attitudes and want to argue. Then they drive away in brand new trucks and cars. Some return later to try and abuse the system again. It's sad. So, in short, I speak for quite a few people about the issue. It's a 2-sided story. We feel you (not necessarily you, Nadia) come to this country and basically try to get what you can and you do not assimilate into society but at the same time expect people to cater to your requests. It's an issue that is only going to get worse because we, as Americans, feel like because we have been here for generations and have built this wonderful nation with our blood, sweat and tears then here come loads of Muslims and Indians who have not contributed anything but yet they want the American Dream off our backs. Is this fair? What contributions have any of these nations contributed? I know none off the top of my head. So, am I wrong to feel this way? Yes, America is a free country. Yes, it is the Land Of Opportunity. What are Arabs and Indians willing to do continue to keep this country the great country that it is? Use it to only their advantage or help it to become better? I wonder.; Reply to this comment


by nadiasindi May 21, 2011 2:41 AM EDT: I'm targeted in daily basis in Eugene, Oregon the capital City of LYNCHING ARAB/MUSLIM AMERICANS!

Springfield Police has hunted me by blatantly Racial Profiling!
The officer showed up from a different direction off the highway, to terrorize, screamed, and almost struck me! Asking me more than 20 times who I was?

In May 10th-11, I had my court appointment to fight the citation that was giving to me by fraud!-The court date was supposed to be on March 17th-11. but I got a notification telling me "Due TO THE OFFICER BEING UNAVALABLE ON 3/17/11, YOUR COURT DATE HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE NEW DATE LISTED BELOW May 10, 2011"-
To my surprise, the Springfield police department had sent another officer to impersonate & pretended; that he was the officer who ticketed me back in Jan. 7-11. Officer Matt Bohman rewrote a new ticket by committing a crime of forgery and fraud.

Living in Eugene, as Arab American; is a taunting mission. I've ran four times for public offices. Each time; I was demonized, smeared, called Sand N..er. and cheated by vote Fraud. My name was on the ballot!

Each time I file a complaint, my complaint gets demised.

I've lost my family's condominium by one of our most corrupted unscrupulous official Rep. Bob Ackerman, who served on the legislators for three terms. Mr. Ackerman forged my family's signature & sold our Condo with the cheapest price. Then listed $10000.00 more than actually was sold, by the help of Barnhart Associates fraudulent realtor that was hired by Mr. Ackerman.

I've been blacklisted by all government sectors. I can't have a job or any earning income. I filed with the highest offices of government: Secretary of the State, ACLU, $PLC, Civil Right, BOLI, NAACP.. All the officials, Congressman, Senators, County Administrator, Commissioners, the two Mayors, Torrey, and Piercy, City and State officials, know about Mr. Ackerman fraudulent misconduct forgery's crime! Our previous D.A and the EPD colluded with Mr. Ackerman, concocted a deal to trap me in a criminal record for 10 years. All the unscrupulous officials collaborated with Mr. Ackerman and helped him to get away with his crime! As a result I became homeless twice.; Reply to this comment


by joinamerica May 19, 2011 8:30 PM EDT: This is a joke right? CBS being the megaphone for the hideously bigoted CAIR (which has already been shown to give money to terrorist organizations including Hamas and Hezbollah).

These leftists (in the media and in our White House) are basically nuts.; Reply to this comment