DEARBORN (WWJ) – A suspect is in custody after allegedly making a “credible threat” of violence against Palestinian-American residents in Dearborn in the wake of the escalating war in Israel.
Dearborn police on Wednesday were alerted to the social media threat “proposing acts of violence” against Palestinian-Americans in the city, according to Police Chief Issa Shahin.
After receiving a copy of the post from an anonymous tip, the department immediately launched an investigation. On Thursday a suspect was arrested at their home in Farmington Hills on the probable cause of using a computer or electronic device to commit a crime.
Authorities have not released the name or age of the suspect, who remained in custody late Thursday afternoon as the investigation continues.
“As a city and a department, the safety and wellbeing of Dearborn residents, employees, and visitors is our top priority,” Shahin said in a statement released Thursday. “For this reason, as an added security measure, we increased our police presence at all places of worship and schools in Dearborn earlier this week.”
Other cities across Metro Detroit – including Oak Park – have also beefed up security measures as a precaution after Hamas, identified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, launched attacks over the weekend, killing over 1,000 people.
In response to the Hamas terror attack, Israel then launched attacks on Gaza, killing over 1,000 Palestinians.
MORE ON THE WAR IN ISRAEL: The Jewish and Muslim communities are intertwined in Metro Detroit. How does the area move forward following violence in the Middle East?
Meanwhile on Thursday, Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said the department “has been fielding numerous calls from community members expressing concern for their personal safety and the safety of others as the conflict in the Middle East continues to grow.”
King said the department has “ been actively working with our State and Federal Intelligence partners and are aware of no direct threats to any particular place, event or group.” He said in addition to normal crime prevention efforts, the police department has “doubled its efforts to provide a visible police presence at houses of worship and schools within our community.”
That includes an increased presence of officers at school buildings.
It was not immediately clear if the department’s statement was connected to the person arrested for the credible threat in Dearborn.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said at this time authorities are not aware of any additional credible threats in Dearborn.
“However, we remain in close, constant contact with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level, and continue to monitor social media,” he said.
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