Federal investigators said an explosion at a mosque in Minnesota was caused by an improvised explosive device as they appealed for help in finding the culprits.
The blast happened at around 5am at the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Centre in Bloomington.
Wellwishers have raised almost US$10,000 (Dh36,700) to help with repairs.
The nature of the attack, suggesting a hate crime, has provoked an angry backlash on social media among activists wanting to know why it has not been classed as terrorism.
Windows of the imam's office at the mosque were shattered but no one was hurt.
About 20 worshippers had already arrived for the day’s first prayers.
One raced outside to see what had happened after the blast echoed through the mosque, setting off fire alarms, according to Mohamed Omar, the centre’s executive director.
“He saw a truck fleeing form the parking lot at very high speed,” he said, adding that smoke poured from the broken window.
Automatic sprinklers doused a fire inside the imam’s office, leaving a mess of damaged and wet furniture.
Mr Omar said the mosque, which primarily serves people from the area's large Somali community, occasionally receives threatening calls and emails.
The site was once used as a school but was converted into a mosque and community centre in 2011
Some nearby residents objected and there have been occasional complaints about cars parking in the area although Saturday’s attack was the first such violent incident.
Yasir Abdalrahman, who has been worshipping at the mosque for two years, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune he was shocked by the attack.
“We came to this country for the same reason everyone else came here — freedom to worship,” he said. “And that freedom is under threat. Every other American should be insulted by this.”
The bombing comes at a time of heightened anxiety for America’s Muslims. There has been a rise in reported anti-Muslim crimes, from arson attacks at mosques to harassment of women wearing head scarves, coinciding with the election of a president who has tried to ban travellers arriving from six mainly Muslim nations.
Vandals recently attacked the nearby Al Maghfirah cemetery in Castle Rock Township, spray painting profanities and swastikas.
Against that background, some activists have questioned why investigators have been slow to label the attack a “hate crime” and why some news organisations have described the mosque attack without using the term “terror” or “terrorists”.
They accused newspapers such as The New York Times of double standards for headlines such as "Minnesota Mosque Hit by Early-Morning Explosion", saying attacks carried out by Muslims would have been described in less neutral terms.
"Hi @nytimes: Let me correct that headline for you. "Terrorist attacks Muslims in Minnesota, bombs their place of worship," wrote Simran Jeet Singh on Twitter,
Richard Thornton, the FBI special agent heading the investigation, appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
“The post-blast environment is very detailed,” he said. “You search the wide area in an attempt to find as many components as you can of the device to help us understand how the device was made. That process is substantially complete.”
He said investigators had recovered parts from an improvised explosive device and were trying to understand how it had been constructed.
They were now sifting through security camera footage and mobile-phone video as they tried to establish whether it was hate crime and who was behind it, he added.
The mosque is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction.
The region’s religious leaders offered messages of support at an interfaith news conference hours after the latest attack.
Curtiss DeYoung, chief executive of the Minnesota Council of Churches, said: “We are here showing solidarity and support for Muslims not only in this centre but for Muslims across our state and the country who are under attack.”
He said the state’s million Protestants offered their sympathy
“An attack on a mosque is an attack on a synagogue is an attack on a church is an attack on all faith communities,” he said. “So we stand with you.”
An online GoFundMe appeal had raised almost $10,000 in its first 16 hours towards a target of $95,000 to repair the damage and support the mosque’s work.
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
West Indies v India - Third ODI
India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)
India won by 93 runs
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
BLACKBERRY
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