March 13, 2018
Minneapolis, MN – Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC), issued the following statement:
“The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) applauds today’s apprehension and charging of the terrorists responsible for bombing the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in August of 2017. We hope today’s news brings some sense of closure and relief to our local Muslim community considering the uptick in hate incidents in 2016 and 2017.
“We thank federal, state, and local law enforcement for their swift response to this violent act of hate in 2017. We specifically recognize the work of the FBI Minneapolis Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Federal District of Minnesota for their efforts to vigorously and methodically investigate this case. We also want to acknowledge former FBI Special Agent in Charge Rick Thornton for devoting the necessary FBI resources to this investigation and his outreach to the community during a difficult time.
“We echo Interim U.S. Attorney Greg Brooker’s words at today’s news conference in which he stated: ‘[The] bombing that took place last summer was a tragedy for all Minnesotans.’
“The JCRC reaffirms its solidarity with the local Muslim community and Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center. Our greater community will combat terrorism with all of our resources and vigor.”
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As the public affairs voice of the Jewish community, the JCRC fights anti-Semitism and prejudice, advocates for Israel, provides Holocaust education, promotes tolerance and social justice, and builds bridges across the Jewish and broader communities.
