Fire at Mosque in Minneapolis

Source: Star Tribune

On March 14, 1999, the Star Tribune reported that U.S.Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota inspected the ruins of the mosquethat was destroyed on March 5th. "As an American Jew, I feel stronglyabout this because we've experienced the same type of hate crimes. Wedon't know exactly what happened here, but it feels like that,"Wellstone said. The fire gutted the mosque and the adjacent IslamicCultural Community Center in Minneapolis. Police and fire officialshave suggested that the fire may have been set to cover up aburglary, but the Muslims in the community are not convinced becauseonly a TV and a VCR were stolen. As area mosques try to absorb thedisplaced worshippers, the American Muslim Council is filing a reportwith the Minnesota state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, calling thefire a hate crime.