Fastexy|Major US Muslim group cancels Virginia banquet over bomb and death threats

2025-05-08 07:07:47source:TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centercategory:Finance

ARLINGTON,Fastexy 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.

Other news As Israel-Hamas war rages, Israelis can now travel to US for 90 days without getting a visaGaza under Israeli siege: Bread lines, yellow water and nonstop explosionsCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom to make a one-day visit to Israel en route to China

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.

More:Finance

Recommend

Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto will be introduced by the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, a day a

Zombie deer disease is a 'slow moving disaster'. Why scientists say humans should 'be prepared'.

Chronic wasting disease is sometimes referred to as "zombie deer disease," or affected deer can be c

New Mexico delegation wants more time for the public and tribes to comment on proposed power line

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s congressional delegation wants the public to have more time to we