A man from Phoenix, Arizona, has been sentenced to federal prison following a series of hoax bomb threats targeting Christian churches, actions that were reportedly driven by Islamic motivations.
Zimnako Salah was found guilty in March for an incident in which he attached a backpack to a toilet at a church in Roseville, Arizona, as detailed in a Department of Justice news release. His actions were classified as a hate crime, as he specifically targeted the church due to the religious beliefs of its congregation.
According to Western Journal, throughout the fall of 2023, Salah attempted to plant backpacks in multiple churches. He was caught by security at two churches while trying to execute his plan. At a church in Scottsdale, Arizona, Salah left a backpack among the pews, which was later discovered by congregants and security to contain only clothing, as reported by CBS News.
However, the threat extended beyond mere hoaxes. Authorities discovered that Salah was in the process of constructing a genuine explosive device that could fit into a backpack. FBI agents found components of an improvised explosive device (IED) in his storage unit, including propane canisters, duct tape, wires, wire cutters, a battery, and an Islamic Quran.
Salah's online activities further revealed his intentions. He had been viewing videos on social media depicting "infidels dying" and ISIS militants committing murders. Days before his criminal acts, he declared on social media, "we are going to destroy" America. U.S. Attorney Eric Grant emphasized the potential devastation of Salah's plans, stating, "Salahs seeming ultimate goal to bomb a Christian church would have resulted in many deaths and injuries if his plan had not been thwarted."
Grant credited the vigilance of church security, local law enforcement, and the FBI for preventing the execution of Salah's plans. He added, "Todays sentence is justified by the history and characteristics of this defendant and serves to protect the public from this defendant. And it affirms that people of all religions should be able to worship freely and exercise their First Amendment rights in this country without fear of violence."
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon underscored the significance of the six-year prison sentence, asserting that it sends a clear message that "those who target people because of their faith will face the full force of federal law." She affirmed the Department of Justice's commitment to safeguarding the rights of all individuals to worship without fear, stating, "We will hold accountable anyone who threatens or harms them."
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by religious communities in exercising their constitutional rights without fear of violence. It also underscores the importance of proactive security measures and law enforcement collaboration in thwarting potential threats.
The sentence serves as a reminder of the federal government's dedication to protecting religious freedom and ensuring that those who seek to undermine it are brought to justice.
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