Two Explosions Confirmed At Cincinnati Mosques

[Skywatch_NC]

Two Explosions Confirmed At Cincinnati Mosques
No Injuries Reported

POSTED: 10:34 am EST December 21, 2005
UPDATED: 11:38 am EST December 21, 2005

CINCINNATI -- Police and federal agents now say they're investigating twin explosions that hit a Cincinnati mosque complex late Tuesday night.

An FBI spokesman says there were blasts at each of two adjoining buildings owned by the Islamic Association of Cincinnati. But special agent Michael Brooks said he can't comment about the size or type of explosive. Brooks won't say whether investigators have identified the source of the blasts.

Brooks says both buildings were used as mosques. He said authorities won't speculate on why the buildings were targeted.

A neighbor told the Associated Press he heard a "big boom" that seemed like thunder at first. But Chad Withers said he saw white smoke and an orange flash when he went outside.

One of the explosions damaged a door on a house that used to serve as the mosque. The other damaged an overhead panel in the front entryway of the new mosque, but it wasn't powerful enough to break the glass front door.

"It's extremely scary especially when you see these things happen around the country ... We haven't had anything like this in Cincinnati so it's very upsetting to have this happen here," said Karen Dabdoub, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Cincinnati.

Police said there were no reports of injuries, and they haven't found any witnesses.

The explosions hit late Tuesday night, about two hours after evening prayers had ended.

Security has been added at a larger mosque in an adjacent county, but there were no reports of threats at that mosque.

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[Miss Mary]

Yep, in my own backyard practically - very scary.

So relieved no one was hurt or worse.

Mary

[streetsoldier]

It may sound unlikely, but could this be retaliation by extremists who aren't getting the support they want from these mosques? Nothing would surprise me.

[O Town]

Sounds about right, I wouldn't be surprised either.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

It may sound unlikely, but could this be retaliation by extremists who aren't getting the support they want from these mosques? Nothing would surprise me.

That was not what struck me first. I was thinking more along the lines of drunk people/white supremacist groups angry at muslims.

[x-y-no]

It may sound unlikely, but could this be retaliation by extremists who aren't getting the support they want from these mosques? Nothing would surprise me.

The reports I've seen suggest these were small pipe-bomb type devices. Real militant extremists would likely do something more effective.

My inclination is to think this is an act of random idiots.

[streetsoldier]

Well, having been involved in "terrorist protocol" FEMA training, I tend to think "outside the box", or "thinking about the unthinkable". In fact, after 9-11, I can say that my eyes were opened to any possibility, no matter how obscure or imaginative.

Why? Because if I can come up with a plan (or two, or a dozen), it's a safe bet that the Islamo-fascists have thought along the same lines.

[gtalum]

was thinking more along the lines of drunk people/white supremacist groups angry at muslims.

I'd have to agree. Random white supremacist idiots. Though it's far too early to make a definitive conclusion.

[TexasStooge]

People aren't happy unless they ruin everything.

[therock1811]

This mosque is a few blocks from the hospital here. It sickens me that people would do something like this.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

It's horrible that people would set off explosions at mosques

[nystate]

I can't believe that anyone would do such a thing. I'm just glad that no one was injured...

[streetsoldier]

It's horrible that people would set off explosions at mosques

Do you think that terrorists would hold back from bombing a church???

[Skywatch_NC]

It's horrible that people would set off explosions at mosques

Do you think that terrorists would hold back from bombing a church???

Even some KKK terrorists who bombed an African American church in Birmingham that killed some girls in their SS classes during the 1960s.

[nystate]

It's horrible that people would set off explosions at mosques

Do you think that terrorists would hold back from bombing a church???

I think both are horrible...

[Miss Mary]

An updated local article:

http://www.cincynow.com/news/2005/local ... osque.html

News Conference Held About Bombs At Mosque

Reported by: Jenell Walton
Web produced by: Liz Foreman
Photographed by: 9News
First Posted: 12/21/2005 9:34:55 AM
Last updated: 12/21/2005 1:15:34 PM
Local religious, political and law enforcement leaders held a press conference Wednesday morning concerning Tuesday night's pipe bombing at a Clifton mosque.


The FBI says the incident has not been classified as a hate crime, but it will be looked at as such.

"No group has claimed responsibility for this act," said Stanley Borgia of the FBI, adding that law enforcement will not stop until the suspect or suspects are identified and brought to justice.

Karen Dabdoub from the Council on American Islamic Relations says the crime had one clear goal.

"This kind of hate crime is intended to divide our community along lines of religion," Dabdoub said.

Mayor Mark Mallory added that it's important the community stand up against this type of act.

"This community must come together. This kind of criminal activity cannot be tolerated in this community. That must be made clear," Mallory said during the press conference.

Details: What Happened

Witnesses called police after an explosion at 3668 Clifton Avenue just after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said there was "light to moderate damage" to a door and a window of a house adjacent to the mosque owned by the Islamic Association of Cincinnati.

"One of the explosions blasted a hole through the ceiling and the roof of the porch and then struck the soffit then blew out the glass," Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher said.

"If people had been there...there was the potential for people to be injured. Or the way the glass was shattered, it could have resulted in death," he added.

The second pipe bomb went off a few minutes after the first, but did not cause any damage.

No one was inside at the time and no one was hurt. The mosque closed for the night at 8 p.m.

Investigation Continues Today

Along with analyzing physical evidence, investigators will spend time Wednesday talking to members of the mosque to see if any individual members might have received threatening mail or phone calls recently.

Police are still trying to find out who is responsible for the crime.

"[We want to] put as much pressure on the people responsible for this so we can find them as soon as possible," Streicher said.

Police Searched For Clues Overnight

That section of Clifton Avenue was closed off to traffic for five hours overnight while firefighters, police and even the FBI investigated the area.

Investigators swept the area looking for other devices but found none.

However, they have been collecting physical evidence, primarily fragments from the door and the explosive device.

"We have every organization on the scene, the FBI, every fire department unit --their bomb unit -- our bomb dog, top investigators, criminal investigations, several other state and federal organizations will be here," said Captain Gene Hamann, of the Cincinnati Police. "It's a very serious incident."

"We've been working in a cooperative fashion overnight," said Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher.

Calls Started Coming In Around 10 p.m.

Police said they initially received two to three calls around 10:10 p.m. from the Clifton and Ludlow area about hearing an explosion.

Police say then they got a call around 10:20 p.m. from someone that claimed they saw an explosion.

Capt. Hamann told 9News that Cincinnati Police have not received any notice of bomb threats, nor have there been any directed towards a place of worship such as the mosque.

Clifton Known For Diversity

The Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati is well known for its diversity and includes several churches, schools, residences and child care facilities nearby.

A mosque leader also told 9News that he was unaware of any threats to the mosque or its congregation.

"We always get the support of the community here," said Majed Dbdoub, a mosque committee member. "We have not received any threats or any of that. This is why we're shocked, actually, that someone is thinking about harming our community here."

Besides the mosque, several other places of worship have co-existed for years along this culturally diverse stretch of Clifton Avenue -- including churches of both Catholic and Protestant denominations, a synagogue on the campus of Hebrew Union College -- and at one time, a Hindu temple on a side street not far from that campus or the University of Cincinnati.

Stay with WCPO.com and WCPO-TV for updates to this story. Please click "refresh" on your browser to view the most recent version of this story.

[Miss Mary]

An updated local article:

http://www.cincynow.com/news/2005/local ... osque.html

News Conference Held About Bombs At Mosque

Reported by: Jenell Walton
Web produced by: Liz Foreman
Photographed by: 9News
First Posted: 12/21/2005 9:34:55 AM
Last updated: 12/21/2005 1:15:34 PM
Local religious, political and law enforcement leaders held a press conference Wednesday morning concerning Tuesday night's pipe bombing at a Clifton mosque.


The FBI says the incident has not been classified as a hate crime, but it will be looked at as such.

"No group has claimed responsibility for this act," said Stanley Borgia of the FBI, adding that law enforcement will not stop until the suspect or suspects are identified and brought to justice.

Karen Dabdoub from the Council on American Islamic Relations says the crime had one clear goal.

"This kind of hate crime is intended to divide our community along lines of religion," Dabdoub said.

Mayor Mark Mallory added that it's important the community stand up against this type of act.

"This community must come together. This kind of criminal activity cannot be tolerated in this community. That must be made clear," Mallory said during the press conference.

Details: What Happened

Witnesses called police after an explosion at 3668 Clifton Avenue just after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said there was "light to moderate damage" to a door and a window of a house adjacent to the mosque owned by the Islamic Association of Cincinnati.

"One of the explosions blasted a hole through the ceiling and the roof of the porch and then struck the soffit then blew out the glass," Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher said.

"If people had been there...there was the potential for people to be injured. Or the way the glass was shattered, it could have resulted in death," he added.

The second pipe bomb went off a few minutes after the first, but did not cause any damage.

No one was inside at the time and no one was hurt. The mosque closed for the night at 8 p.m.

Investigation Continues Today

Along with analyzing physical evidence, investigators will spend time Wednesday talking to members of the mosque to see if any individual members might have received threatening mail or phone calls recently.

Police are still trying to find out who is responsible for the crime.

"[We want to] put as much pressure on the people responsible for this so we can find them as soon as possible," Streicher said.

Police Searched For Clues Overnight

That section of Clifton Avenue was closed off to traffic for five hours overnight while firefighters, police and even the FBI investigated the area.

Investigators swept the area looking for other devices but found none.

However, they have been collecting physical evidence, primarily fragments from the door and the explosive device.

"We have every organization on the scene, the FBI, every fire department unit --their bomb unit -- our bomb dog, top investigators, criminal investigations, several other state and federal organizations will be here," said Captain Gene Hamann, of the Cincinnati Police. "It's a very serious incident."

"We've been working in a cooperative fashion overnight," said Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher.

Calls Started Coming In Around 10 p.m.

Police said they initially received two to three calls around 10:10 p.m. from the Clifton and Ludlow area about hearing an explosion.

Police say then they got a call around 10:20 p.m. from someone that claimed they saw an explosion.

Capt. Hamann told 9News that Cincinnati Police have not received any notice of bomb threats, nor have there been any directed towards a place of worship such as the mosque.

Clifton Known For Diversity

The Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati is well known for its diversity and includes several churches, schools, residences and child care facilities nearby.

A mosque leader also told 9News that he was unaware of any threats to the mosque or its congregation.

"We always get the support of the community here," said Majed Dbdoub, a mosque committee member. "We have not received any threats or any of that. This is why we're shocked, actually, that someone is thinking about harming our community here."

Besides the mosque, several other places of worship have co-existed for years along this culturally diverse stretch of Clifton Avenue -- including churches of both Catholic and Protestant denominations, a synagogue on the campus of Hebrew Union College -- and at one time, a Hindu temple on a side street not far from that campus or the University of Cincinnati.

Stay with WCPO.com and WCPO-TV for updates to this story. Please click "refresh" on your browser to view the most recent version of this story.