Dearborn Police have released more details about an attempted terrorist attack at one of the country’s largest mosques.
Police arrested 63-year-old Roger Stockham at the Islamic Center of America last Monday. The trunk of Stockham’s car was packed with high-powered fireworks.
Police followed a Detroit bar owner's tip to apprehend Stockham. They immediately told the mosque’s Imam, who informed his congregation about the incident Friday. Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad says everyone waited to release the information because they wanted to investigate first.
“Our first point of interest was to make sure that the individual was working alone and there was no subsequent types of terror planned for that location.
Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, says this incident and other threats have heightened security concerns at U.S. mosques.
“However, we’re not going to let this incident stop us from attending mosques. Mosque services have been full and overflowing. Our mosques are always full on Friday prayers and I think they will continue to be that way.”
Stockham is a California resident and has a history of threatening government agencies. He was treated for mental illness at a Federal criminal facility.
Stockham faces explosives and terrorism charges in a Dearborn court Friday. The FBI is also investigating.
