Authorities deem threats to 2 Florida mosques not credible

Author: the associated press
Published: Updated:
Police lights crime

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The FBI says threats made against two Tampa Bay-area mosques in the wake of the deadly attacks in France have been deemed not credible.

The FBI says threatening phone messages were left Friday night for the Islamic Society of St. Petersburg and the Islamic Society of Pinellas County.

The agency’s Tampa field office spokesman, Dave Couvertier, says the calls came from the same person, who was identified and interviewed over the weekend. Couvertier says investigators found no actual plans to carry out acts of violence.

Hatem Jaber, a volunteer and teacher at the St. Petersburg mosque, says the caller threatened to “firebomb” the mosque and called Friday’s attacks in Paris “the last straw.”

The mosque canceled prayer and St. Petersburg Police added extra patrols following the threat.

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