Bomb threat made during Friday prayers in US capital mosque

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

TORONTO (AA) - A bomb threat was made against Mohammed Mosque (Masjid Muhammad) in Washington, DC as worshipers were performing Friday prayers.

Police responded and evacuated the congregation during prayers but determined the threat was baseless.

A Metropolitan Police officer told Anadolu that officials went to the mosque as quickly as possible after receiving a tip and the congregation was immediately evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Police responded with a special bomb team and bomb search dogs.

Imam Yusuf Selim said police came during the sermon after they received a bomb threat against the mosque. He said he asked for help in evacuating worshipers for the safety of the community.

Explaining that Mohamed Abdulmalik, the security chief of the mosque, asked the congregation to evacuate the building immediately, Selim emphasized that police dogs did not enter the prayer area.

Selim said that bomb experts concentrated on the area where the report was made, and when it was understood that the report was unfounded, the congregation re-entered and resumed prayers. Selim said authorities should take this matter seriously.

Abdulmalik said although the report turned out to be unfounded, police recorded the incident as a "hate crime."