Former St. Anthony bank being converted to mosque vandalized or broken into 7 times in two months

Mara H. Gottfried, Pioneer Press
Updated ·2 min read

A building being established as a youth-focused center and mosque in St. Anthony has been vandalized and broken into seven times in two months, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Damage is estimated to exceed $20,000 and the Minnesota chapter of CAIR is asking law enforcement to investigate whether the incidents at the Tibyan Center were motivated by bias.

“These attacks have shaken our community, and many members who were excited about the opportunity the new center represents are now feeling fearful and vulnerable,” Jaylani Hussein, CAIR-Minnesota executive director, said in a Wednesday statement. “We believe these attacks may be part of a broader effort to intimidate and harm Muslim communities and we call on law enforcement and the community to help in bringing these perpetrators into custody.”

The incidents began at the end of May after the Tibyan Center announced plans for the former Bremer Bank building on Lowry Avenue near Stinson Parkway, according to CAIR-MN.

There are no signs outside the building indicating the plans or who owns it, according to St. Anthony Police Chief Jeff Spiess.

“The owner indicated to us that he believes the crime is bias-motivated, though I am unable to determine at this time the motivations of the suspects involved,” Spiess said Thursday. The department is investigating five reports it has received: three were classified as burglaries, one an attempted burglary and one criminal damage to property.

During the first break-in, fire extinguishers were sprayed and computers and other items were broken; a window was broken in June, according to CAIR-MN. A member of the center stopped a break-in on July 7. During the latest incident on Tuesday, windows were broken and there was other vandalism.

Security cameras have captured the incidents and, in two of the cases, police noted that surveillance video showed juvenile suspects.

CAIR-MN asked anyone with information to contact them or call St. Anthony police at 612-782-3350.

The Tibyan Center project is in the application phase and is scheduled to be presented to the Planning Commission on Aug. 20, according to the city.

Nick Ferraro contributed to this report.

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