San Diego Muslims Face Intimidation
M-80 Firecracker Explodes At Clairemont Mesa Islam Center
POSTED: 7:39 a.m. PDT September 17, 2001
UPDATED: 7:03 a.m. PDT September 18, 2001
SAN DIEGO -- As a series of possible hate crimes against Muslims swept the country Monday, authorities in San Diego investigated the explosion of firecrackers near a mosque in Clairemont Mesa and in front of the home of a Muslim-American, 10News reported.
Two suspects were detained for questioning and then released after M-80 firecrackers went off in front of a home and at the Islam Center of San Diego, 7250 Eckstrom Ave., shortly before 7:54 p.m. Sunday, San Diego police Lt. Ernesto Salgado said.
No fire, damage or injuries were reported, he said.
Police questioned the two men (pictured, left) in their 20s, and retaliation for Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., was considered to be a possible motive, he added.
Fire authorities were called to investigate the detonations at 10:02 p.m., San Diego fire dispatcher Pam Hunter said.
The firecracker incident came as San Diego authorities were investigating a number of threats and other alleged hate crimes directed at people of Middle Eastern descent in the wake of Tuesday's devastating terrorist attacks.
"Everything is going to be taken very seriously. We're encouraging everything to be reported, whether or not the victim feels it is a crime. Let the police decide," Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick said.
Hani Ilaian, who owns a Middle Eastern grocery on El Cajon Boulevard, said that someone called his store and asked if he had rat poison in stock, Ilaian said.
"I wish you do, so I can poison you," the caller told him.
Another person phoned the store and said, "I wish all you Arabs are destroyed."
Meanwhile, a killing in Arizona may be a reaction to the terror attacks.
Frank Roque allegedly shot and killed a Mesa, Arizona gas station owner who was of Indian descent.
It's believed that Roque murdered Balbir Singh Sodhi after mistaking the Sikh for a Muslim, because the victim wore a turban.
Other possible hate crimes include an attack on an Indian man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an attempt to run over a Pakistani woman in New York state, and a fire at a Seattle mosque.
President Bush visited a mosque Monday and called for tolerance. "Those who feel they can intimidate to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind," the president said.
Some non-Muslims brought flowers to the Islam Center of San Diego Monday as a show of support after they heard about the firecracker incident.
"It's sad when you hear about stuff like this. So many people already lost their lives, there's no point in anyone else being hurt by this," Andre Gillispie said.
 COMPLETE COVERAGE BACKGROUND SOUND OFF RESOURCES |
No fire, damage or injuries were reported, he said.
Police questioned the two men (pictured, left) in their 20s, and retaliation for Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., was considered to be a possible motive, he added.
Fire authorities were called to investigate the detonations at 10:02 p.m., San Diego fire dispatcher Pam Hunter said.
The firecracker incident came as San Diego authorities were investigating a number of threats and other alleged hate crimes directed at people of Middle Eastern descent in the wake of Tuesday's devastating terrorist attacks.
"Everything is going to be taken very seriously. We're encouraging everything to be reported, whether or not the victim feels it is a crime. Let the police decide," Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick said.
Hani Ilaian, who owns a Middle Eastern grocery on El Cajon Boulevard, said that someone called his store and asked if he had rat poison in stock, Ilaian said.
"I wish you do, so I can poison you," the caller told him.
Another person phoned the store and said, "I wish all you Arabs are destroyed."
Meanwhile, a killing in Arizona may be a reaction to the terror attacks.
Frank Roque allegedly shot and killed a Mesa, Arizona gas station owner who was of Indian descent.
It's believed that Roque murdered Balbir Singh Sodhi after mistaking the Sikh for a Muslim, because the victim wore a turban.
Other possible hate crimes include an attack on an Indian man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an attempt to run over a Pakistani woman in New York state, and a fire at a Seattle mosque.
President Bush visited a mosque Monday and called for tolerance. "Those who feel they can intimidate to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind," the president said.
Some non-Muslims brought flowers to the Islam Center of San Diego Monday as a show of support after they heard about the firecracker incident.
"It's sad when you hear about stuff like this. So many people already lost their lives, there's no point in anyone else being hurt by this," Andre Gillispie said.
Copyright 2002 by TheSanDiegoChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
