Islamic group calls FBI, law enforcement to investigate online bomb threat

The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations contacted the FBI and state authorities Monday, May 9, 2016, about a Facebook comment advocating blowing up part of the Islamic Da'wah Center. The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations contacted the FBI and state authorities Monday, May 9, 2016, about a Facebook comment advocating blowing up part of the Islamic Da'wah Center. Photo: Facebook, CAIR Photo: Facebook, CAIR Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close Islamic group calls FBI, law enforcement to investigate online bomb threat 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

A Facebook comment advocating an Islamic center in Houston be blown up prompted a phone call to the FBI and state law enforcement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The comment, from the Facebook group "Heart of Texas," was made about a May 21 event called "Stop the Islamization of Texas." The event is a protest against the Library of Islamic Knowledge, which opened last month at the Islamic Da'wah Center, 201 Travis St.

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The comment "Need to blow this place up. We don't need this sh*** in Texas," was posted in the comments under the event listing, prompting CAIR officials in Houston to alert authorities. The thread also contained a number of other anti-Islamic comments.

However, the Islamic Da'wah Center is not giving credence to the threat.

"The Islamic Da'wah Center does not believe that this is a credible threat to the building or to the safety of our visitors and we believe that there is no credibility that the safety of our guests and visitors is compromised in any way shape or form," said Ameer Abuhalimeh, executive director of the center.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, reported the threat.

"We're hoping nothing happens but we're taking every precaution," said Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of CAIR's Houston chapter. "We don't get threats every day, but we get them enough that it's disturbing."

Special Agent Shauna Dunlap said the FBI will take appropriate action in response to the report made by CAIR in conjunction with local and state law enforcement partners.

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"We take such matters very seriously and encourage anyone with information about a potential threat to contact the FBI or local law enforcement authorities immediately," Dunlap said.

In the details of the Stop Islamization of Texas event, the group refers to the library as a "shrine of hatred."

"What would (sic) founding fathers say if they knew we're gonna put up with people who wish to kill us?" the group posted for the event planned for noon, May 21. "Feel free to bring along your firearms, concealed or not!"

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The building, formerly Houston National Bank, was restored and renovated to house the Islamic Da'wah Center in the late 1990s, after Houston Rocket's legend Hakeem Olajuwon acquired the property in 1994. The center officially opened in 2002 as a three-story facility that includes its main prayer hall on the first floor in addition to meeting rooms, classrooms, offices and a kitchen.

Anyone wishing to contact the FBI in Houston can call 713-693-5000 or go to www.FBI.gov.