Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Crime, Law and Justice
Estelle Timar-Wilcox

Police investigate potential bias motive in hit-and-run at Minneapolis mosque

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

The Minneapolis Police Department arrested a suspect Wednesday night in a hit-and-run at a Minneapolis mosque earlier in the day. Police are investigating the incident as a potential bias crime.

The hit-and-run happened just before noon on Wednesday, according to a police press release. A man was in the parking lot of the Alhikma Islamic Center on the 100 block of East 32nd Street, getting items out of his car, when a man drove a minivan toward him at a high speed. The man tried to run out of the way, but the minivan swerved to hit him. The incident was captured on surveillance video.

The man in the parking lot was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver left the scene. 

Police later arrested a 37-year-old man who they believe was driving the minivan. Authorities said they were familiar with this person, and that he has a history of trespassing and acting erratically at the mosque and in the surrounding neighborhood. 

Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the preliminary investigation indicates that the driver may have had a bias motive.

“We won’t tolerate any crime in our city. But hate crimes and crimes against our houses of worship are particularly troubling because of the very real widespread fear they generate and the potential division they create among our residents,” O’Hara said.

The Muslim civil rights group CAIR-Minnesota said the injured man was one of its staffers. The organization also said that the arrested suspect has harassed worshipers at the mosque in the past.

“This apparently intentional attack outside a religious institution must be investigated as a possible hate crime,” CAIR-Minnesota executive director Jaylani Hussein said. “We urge stepped-up security and increased vigilance at Islamic institutions statewide.”