Minnesota
Hate Crime Statistics Case Examples News DOJ Offices
2023 Hate Crime Statistics for Minnesota*
| Bias Motivation Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry | 175 | 109 | 104 |
| Religion | 44 | 27 | 45 |
| Sexual Orientation | 44 | 36 | 45 |
| Disability | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Gender | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Gender Identity | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Total | 274 | 185 | 209 |
| Type of Crime | Incidents | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Crimes Against Persons | 139 | 62.1% |
| Crimes Against Property | 83 | 37.1% |
| Crimes Against Society | 2 | 0.9% |
| Bias Motivation Category | Incidents | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry | 104 | 49.8% |
| Religion | 45 | 21.5% |
| Sexual Orientation | 45 | 21.5% |
| Disability | 3 | 1.4% |
| Gender | 2 | 1.0% |
| Gender Identity | 10 | 4.8% |
* 2021 was the first year that the annual hate crimes statistics were reported entirely through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). As a result of the shift to NIBRS-only data collection, law enforcement agency participation in submitting all crime statistics, including hate crimes, fell significantly from 2020 to 2021.
Case Examples
A grand jury charged a Minnesota man for setting fire to a mosque.
According to the charges, on April 23, 2023, the defendant started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. The next day, surveillance video captured the defendant returning to the mosque. Soon after his arrival, a much larger fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque causing significant damage and forcing dozens of people to evacuate.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/minnesota-man-indicted-mosque-arson
A federal judge sentenced two men to prison for their roles in the 2017 bombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Two other defendants have pled guilty to their roles in the bombing.
During the summer of 2017, the defendants joined a terrorist militia group called “The White Rabbits” in Clarence, Illinois. On August 4th and 5th, the group drove a rented truck from Illinois to Minnesota to bomb the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center. The defendants selected the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center to terrorize Muslims into believing they are not welcome in the United States and should leave the country. On August 5, the group bombed the Islamic Center. At the time of the bombing, several worshipers were gathered in the mosque for morning prayers.
On November 7, 2017, the group also attempted to set fire to the Women’s Health Practice in Champaign, Illinois. They used a sledgehammer to break a window and placed a device in the building to start a fire. The device did not ignite and was found by a Women’s Health Practice employee.
The two men face between 14 and 16 years in prison for their crimes.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/federal-jury-convicts-illinois-man-bombing-dar-al-farooq-islamic-center
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/two-illinois-men-sentenced-prison-their-roles-bombing-dar-al-farooq-islamic-center
News
- January 14, 2025 | Minnesota Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Assault Against Black Man
- May 5, 2023 | Minnesota Man Indicted for Mosque Arson
- April 12, 2022 | Two Illinois Men Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in 2017 Bombing of Minnesota Islamic Center
- September 13, 2021 | Dar al-Farooq Mosque Bomber Sentenced to 53 Years in Prison
- December 9, 2020 | Federal Jury Convicts Illinois Man for Bombing the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center
- April 6, 2020 | U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald And Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison Announce Joint Minnesota COVID-19 Action Team
- June 21, 2019 | Three Illinois Men Indicted on Federal Civil Rights and Hate Crime Violations in the Bombing of Bloomington, Minnesota, Islamic Center
- March 8, 2017 | Minnesota Man Who Sent Threatening Letter to Islamic Center Sentenced to 12 Months In Prison
DOJ Offices
FBI Field Office
U.S. Attorney's Office
Community Relations Service (CRS)
- Community Relations Service
at U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
175 N Street, NE, Suite 4.601
Washington, DC 20530
(202) 252-5550
USAEO.AskCRS@usdoj.gov