Current:Home > FinanceSurpassing Quant Think Tank Center|Major US Muslim group cancels Virginia banquet over bomb and death threats -Capital Dream Guides
Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center|Major US Muslim group cancels Virginia banquet over bomb and death threats
Indexbit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-11 04:18:40
ARLINGTON,Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center Va. (AP) — A national Muslim civil rights group is moving its annual banquet out of a Virginia hotel that received bomb and death threats the group said Wednesday may be linked to its concern for Palestinians caught in the Israel-Hamas war.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations canceled plans to hold its 29th annual banquet on Saturday at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, where it has held events for the past decade, and will instead move it to an as-yet undisclosed location with heightened security, a CAIR statement said.
“In recent days, according to the Marriott, anonymous callers have threatened to plant bombs in the hotel’s parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes, and storm the hotel in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol if the events moved forward,” the statement said.
Arlington police and the FBI are investigating, CAIR said.
Arlington police said in an email that the department was investigating a Thursday morning report from the hotel that it received anonymous phone calls, “some referencing threats to bomb,” regarding the CAIR event.
Emails seeking comment from the FBI and the Marriott hotel chain were not immediately answered late Thursday night.
A separate banquet planned for Oct. 28 in Maryland also was cancelled and will be merged with the Oct. 21 event, CAIR said.
The threats came after CAIR updated banquet programming to focus on human rights issues for Palestinians. The group has started an online campaign urging Congressional members to promote a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We strongly condemn the extreme and disgusting threats against our organization, the Marriott hotel and its staff,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad, who is Palestinian American, said in a statement. “We will not allow the threats of anti-Palestinian racists and anti-Muslim bigots who seek to dehumanize the Palestinian people and silence American Muslims to stop us from pursuing justice for all.”
Hamas militants from the blockaded Gaza Strip stormed into nearby Israeli towns on Oct. 7, which coincided with a major Jewish holiday. The attack killed hundreds of civilians. Since then, Israel has launched airstrikes on Gaza, destroying entire neighborhoods and killing hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
There have been concerns the war will inspire violence in the U.S. Last week, police in major cities increased patrols, authorities put up fencing around the U.S. Capitol and some schools closed. But law enforcement officials stressed there were no credible threats in the U.S.
veryGood! (11)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Elon Musk restores X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
- Norman Lear's son-in-law, Dr. Jon LaPook, reflects on the legendary TV producer's final moments: He was one of my best friends
- Regulators’ recommendation would mean 3% lower electric rates for New Mexico residential customers
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Children of imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi to accept Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf
- Bo Nix's path to Heisman finalist: from tough times at Auburn to Oregon stardom
- He entered high school at 13. He passed the bar at 17. Meet California's youngest lawyer.
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- UN says the Taliban must embrace and uphold human rights obligations in Afghanistan
Ranking
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Teen gunman sentenced to life for Oxford High School massacre in Michigan
- Greyhound bus service returns to Mississippi’s capital city
- NFL investigation finds Bengals in compliance with injury report policy
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- These Sephora Products Are Almost Never on Sale, Don’t Miss Deals on Strivectin, Charlotte Tilbury & More
- Major changes to US immigration policy are under discussion. What are they and what could they mean?
- New Mexico police are trying to identify 4 people who died in fiery head-on crash
Recommendation
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
US and Philippines condemn China coast guard’s dangerous water cannon blasts against Manila’s ships
Teen gunman sentenced to life for Oxford High School massacre in Michigan
Norman Lear's son-in-law, Dr. Jon LaPook, reflects on the legendary TV producer's final moments: He was one of my best friends
Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
Oklahoma City voters consider 1% sales tax to build a $1 billion arena for NBA’s Thunder
Elon Musk restores X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
Where the Republican presidential candidates stand on Israel and Ukraine funding