Michigan authorities announced the arrest of an Illinois man following allegations that he made terrorist threats against a mosque in Dearborn Heights last September, amid rising concerns about hate crimes targeting Muslims.
According to Detroit News, Kenneth Gerke, 63, turned himself in to authorities in his state and was later transported to Dearborn Heights earlier this week after a joint investigation involving local and federal agencies, including Dearborn Heights Police, Elgin Police in Illinois, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security in Wayne County.
Felony Charge Filed After Threat Against Local Worship Site
Gerke has been charged with a felony for making a false report or terrorist threat and is being held at Wayne County Jail. Investigators say the threat occurred on September 29, just one day after a fatal shooting at a church in Grand Blanc Township, raising widespread fears about the safety of houses of worship in the area.
In a statement Monday, Mayor Mo Baydoun praised the coordination between law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that Dearborn Heights “does not tolerate any form of discrimination, threat, or violence,” and that such incidents are “completely unacceptable in our community.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR–Michigan) welcomed the swift action taken by authorities and urged stronger protection for mosques and Islamic institutions across the state. Dawud Walid, CAIR’s executive director, said: “No community should have to live in fear of hate-motivated violence,” stressing the need for federal authorities to continue taking these threats seriously.
CAIR Reports Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Nationwide
This incident comes amid a troubling rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States. In its annual report released last March, CAIR said its offices received 8,658 complaints in 2024—its highest number since documentation began in 1996 and a 7.4% increase from the previous year. The complaints included incidents of discrimination, threats, and harassment in workplaces, schools, and public facilities.
In October, CAIR called for enhanced security measures after a series of threats targeted Islamic institutions in Dearborn Heights, including the American Islamic Institute, where a Texas man allegedly made threatening calls. The organization also welcomed terrorism charges against a Virginia man suspected of threatening to kill Muslims at a Michigan mosque.
In response to the rise in threats, CAIR is distributing a booklet titled “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety”, which includes security guidelines applicable to all houses of worship and aims to strengthen the ability of local communities to protect their religious institutions from potential threats.