Man Arrested After Alleged Threats Against Arizona Islamic Center
According to police reports, officers responded to the West Valley Islamic Center on March 24 following complaints that a man was making threatening remarks toward Muslims.
The individual, identified by authorities as 37-year-old Michael Hanson, reportedly told police he had been watching the movie American Sniper before deciding to locate a nearby Muslim place of worship as a "show of force," ABC15 Arizona reported.
Witnesses said Hanson, who appeared intoxicated at the time, verbally harassed worshippers before leaving the area in a rideshare vehicle. Officers later found him back at the scene, attempting to conceal himself near a dumpster.
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Hanson was also reported to have made statements about bombing the center, but later retracted those remarks during questioning.
Police documents indicate that Hanson issued threats during interviews with detectives as well.
Authorities noted that Hanson had previous interactions with the Goodyear Police Department and the local Veterans Affairs hospital.
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Arizona) commented on the arrest, expressing appreciation for the authorities' prompt response.
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In a statement, CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif said, “We welcome the arrest in this troubling case and thank law enforcement authorities for their swift and professional actions to protect the Muslim community and its religious institutions from threats and harassment.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not released further details regarding potential charges.
The threat comes amid a spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes across the United States.
Source: Agencies
