'Columbine-type' terrorist attack on US mosque foiled

A southern California man has been arrested on terrorism charges after he threatened to kill local muslims in a “columbine-type” attack on a mosque, authorities said Tuesday.

Mark Feigin, 40, was arrested on October 19 by Los Angeles Police after he made repeated threatening phone calls to the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC).

Police found a large collection of high-powered guns and bullets at Feigin’s house, but did not specify if the rifles were registered or not.

According to L.A. police commander Horace Frank, Feigin allegedly made two threatening phone calls to the mosque on September 19 and 20 where he reportedly “threatened to kill the person who answered the phone along with other members of the centre”.

Omar Ricci, a spokesperson for the ICSC, said that the images of the guns had made him think of a "Columbine-type event."

"He could have easily barged in and hurt some of our members," he said.

"The worst came to mind and that's why we have added additional security to the Islamic Centre."

Ricci said that mosque-goers were “shaken” by the event, adding that these types of threats were not altogether unusual however.

“Unfortunately in today’s political climate, such hate is not uncommon,” he said.

Investigators were able to trace the calls made on September 19 and 20 to Feigin, but Frank did not disclose how police were able to link them to Feigin, citing an ongoing investigation.

Feigin has been released on bail with a $70,000 bond as he waits for trial on November 10.

There has been an increase in anti-Muslim hate crime in the United States.

Earlier this month, three men were arrested after plotting to bomb a residential building housing Somali-Americans, where one of the units was being used as a mosque.

The three men, members of a group calling themselves “The Crusaders,” planned to detonate explosives outside an apartment complex in Garden City, Kansas, the day after the elections.

“They had the desire, the means, and the capabilities and were committed to carrying out this act of domestic terrorism,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric K. Jackson.

Officials said the men were linked with other militias which espouse anti-government, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim sentiments.