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The Jumu’ah prayer service at Masjid Muhammad, “The Nation’s Mosque,” was disrupted Friday after Metropolitan Police Division (MPD) officers arrived on the scene and advised officers that the mosque was the goal of a bomb menace.
MPD officers arrived at Masjid Muhammad at about 1:15 p.m. Friday in the course of the congregational prayer service and, out of warning, the service was canceled and the constructing evacuated.
Imam Talib Shareef, chief of the historic mosque, stated MPD officers searched all the constructing and upon completion of a sweep the constructing was reopened and folks returned to the constructing and resumed prayers.
Imam Shareef stated Commander James M. Boteler Jr, of MPD’s third District, advised him that the incident was recorded as a “felony offense hate crime.”
“This kind of incident was a primary for our home of worship. It was additionally witnessed by our worldwide live-streaming viewers,” Imam Shareef stated including. “We’re grateful to Almighty G-d, Allah, there was no bomb, and we applaud the professionalism and timeliness of our police division in addition to our Neighborhood’s Public Security Workforce.”
“Lots of our members stay shaken from the incident, which to be anticipated, brought about a scare among the many many fellow residents, harmless males, ladies, aged, and youngsters that have been current.”
Shareef stated the incident passed off throughout a go to by a various group of appointed and elected officers from throughout the nation visiting as a part of a program to study extra about our nation’s religion communities.
Thomas Bowen, director of the Mayor’s Workplace of Non secular Affairs, stated “We have been saddened to listen to concerning the latest menace and the necessity to evacuate throughout an necessary day of the week and that’s Jumu’ah.”
“Imam Talib Shareef is a part of the Mayor’s interfaith council and we’ll proceed to help Masjid Muhammad in all that they do,” Bowen added.
Through the incident, a neighbor from throughout the road came visiting and helped to evacuate aged members, and made bottled water and use of their restroom accessible.
“We significantly respect the quite a few calls, texts, and emails we’ve obtained from neighbors, religion communities, and our companions regionally and throughout the nation extending their regards, ideas, and issues for our well-being,” Shareef stated.