Governor Dayton Visits Islamic Center After Burglaries

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith visited the Umatul Islam Center in south Minneapolis Sunday morning.

Last Wednesday, that center was burglarized and doors and windows were broken. Gov. Dayton called the act vicious and cowardly.

"This is an assault against your right to choose your place of worship. It's an assault against the right of every Minnesotan to practice their faith as they chose," Dayton said.

Officials with the Umatul Islam Center tell CAIR that a white male apparently in his 50s was caught on surveillance video breaking doors and windows in the mosque and stealing equipment and files. The damage estimate is more than $5,000.

Wednesday's vandalism is reportedly the second such incident in the past month. A man who appears to resemble the most recent suspect was allegedly caught on surveillance video trying unsuccessfully to break into the mosque.