Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton condemned this weekend’s bomb attack on a Bloomington mosque as “act of terrorism” as officials and interfaith leaders expressed their support for the scared Muslim community.
Dayton also termed the attack that took place early morning Saturday outside of Minneapolis around the time of prayer as a hate crime.
The F.B.I. and Police are investigating the incident, which has not yet been officially categorized. Investigators say an improvised explosive device was used in the attack, which damaged the window and a part of the inside of the Center.
“What a terrible, dastardly, cowardly act was committed…it is a criminal act of terrorism,” Dayton said during a visit to the Dar al Farooq Mosque, where he met with Muslim leaders.
According to eye witnesses a pickup truck was seen leaving the parking lot at unusual speed following the attack.
Police are looking for suspects.
Meanwhile, religious leaders expressed their solidarity with the local Muslim community.
“An attack on a mosque is an attack on a synagogue is an attack on a church, is an attack on all faith communities,” Curtiss DeYoung, the CEO of the Minnesota Council of Churches, told reporters, according to an NPR report.
“And so we stand with you, a million protestants in Minnesota.”
“The Dar Al Farooq Center welcomes and expresses gratitude to members of different faith-based communities who turned up in large numbers to show their solidarity and support to us in our time of grief.” the Center officials said in a Facebook post.
