ABC News: Two Explosions Reported at Ohio Mosque

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1428576

CINCINNATI Dec 21, 2005 — Two explosions caused minor
exterior damage at a mosque complex about two hours
after evening prayers, and federal agents joined the
investigation.

No injuries were reported and police hadn't found any
witnesses to the Tuesday night explosions at the
Islamic Association of Cincinnati mosque, police Capt.
Gene Hamann said.

The FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives were involved in the case,
joining Cincinnati and State Highway Patrol state
investigators, FBI Special agent Mike Brooks said.

Brooks confirmed Wednesday morning there were two
explosions, one at each of two adjoining buildings
owned by the association.

"As of right now, we can't make any comment on the
size or the type of explosive," Brooks said. He also
said authorities wouldn't speculate on why the
buildings, both used as mosques, were targeted.

One explosion damaged an overhead glass panel in a
front entryway at the mosque, and the other damaged a
door on a porch at an adjacent house.

There was no immediate comment Wednesday from the
Islamic Association of Cincinnati, where a telephone
rang busy.

The mosque is about a mile from the University of
Cincinnati campus and near several churches and Hebrew
Union College.

About 300 to 500 people worship at the mosque on a
typical Friday, said Karen Dabdoub, director of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations in Cincinnati.

"This is very disturbing," she said. "And not only for
this mosque and our community, but for the Islamic
community in and around greater Cincinnati."

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Mosque bombing condemned
By William A. Weathers and Eileen Kelley
Enquirer staff writers

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051221/NEWS01/312210016

CLIFTON – More than two dozen religious leaders and
public officials gathered at the Islamic Association
of Cincinnati Mosque this morning to condemn the
Tuesday night bombing of the group’s buildings.

The religious leaders called the incident a despicable
hate crime that will not be tolerated in the Greater
Cincinnati area.

“What happened here last night was wrong, hateful and
evil,’’ said Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk.

Rabbi Abie I. Ingber, president of the Greater
Cincinnati Board of Rabbis, called the bombing
incident “a deplorable act toward everyone” in the
Greater Cincinnati community.

“The Muslim community is deeply concerned about this
event and we are hoping that it can be quickly
determined who committed the crime,’’ Dr. Inayat
Malik, president of the Islamic Educational Council,
said in a statement.

Stanley Borgia, special agent in charge of the
Cincinnati FBI office, said the investigation has not
yet determined a motive for “the crime of violence
against the Islamic Center. The intent of perpetrators
is unclear,’’ he said

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing,
which is being investigated as a possible hate crime
or act of terrorism, Borgia said.

“This is a hateful act whether it’s classified as a
hate crime or not,’’ said Mayor Mark Mallory. ” This
kind of criminal act cannot be tolerated in this
community.’’

Police Chief Tom Streicher said, “We will not stop
until the people are identified and brought to
justice.”

There were two explosive devices that detonated
outside in the doorways of two adjacent buildings of
the Islamic Center Tuesday night, Borgia said.

“We’re analyzing the bomb devices,’’ he said.

The bomb blasts damaged the wooden door and
surrounding glass windows in the older building and
blew out glass windows in the newer building. The
ceiling area of the entranceways of both buildings
were also damaged.

The explosion happened about 10:10 p.m. Tuesday,
police said.

No one was injured. An evening prayer service had
ended about 8 p.m., and the buildings were closed.

The Islamic Association has two building at the site –
one is a two-story brick house and the other an
attached worship center that opened about two years
ago. The older building formerly served as the mosque.

Cincinnati police and fire officials, along with the
FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives, are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information of the incident is asked to
call crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040 or the FBI at
(513) 421-4310.

Islamic center officials said daily prayer services
and other activities at the mosque will continue, but
there will be increased security, center officials
said. They declined to provide details.

As many as 400 families worship at the mosque.

This morning’s press conference was organized by the
Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations.

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group,
has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam,
encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower
American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote
justice and mutual understanding.

E-mail bweathers@...
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