Threats Against Mosques and Muslims Raise Security Concerns Across the United States

A series of threats against mosques and Muslims has raised security concerns for Islamic institutions across the United States. Recent incidents include an alleged bomb threat against the ADAMS Center in Virginia, a letter threatening mass killing at a California mosque, and alleged death threats against four Muslim men in Michigan.

A September 30 security bulletin reviewed by the Shia Muslim Foundation assessed the threat of physical attacks against Muslims as elevated, citing recent threats against mosques and individuals as well as demonstrations outside Islamic institutions. The bulletin recorded 38 reported threats and attacks in the United States between January and September 2026 and cautioned that reported incidents do not capture every case.

One of the most immediate cases for Muslim communities in the Washington region involves the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, known as the ADAMS Center, in Northern Virginia.

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, detectives were alerted to a comment posted on the ADAMS Center’s Instagram page indicating that someone intended to deliver an explosive device to an ADAMS Center event. Investigators executed multiple search warrants on September 18. The following day, Adam Sawyer, 50, of Spotsylvania County, was arrested and charged with one count of Threats to Bomb. The investigation involved the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfax County Police Department.

The September security bulletin also documented the threat and the subsequent arrest.

In California, federal prosecutors have charged a man in connection with an explicit threat of mass violence against Muslims.

The U.S. Department of Justice says Louis White, 60, of Warner Springs mailed a letter to the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley that threatened the mass killing of Muslims. According to a federal criminal complaint, the mosque received the letter on August 26. It included a drawing depicting a bearded man inside crosshairs.

Federal authorities said investigators traced the letter to White and searched his residence on August 29. Several firearms were seized, including what investigators described as an AR 15 style short barreled rifle without a serial number. White was charged with mailing threatening communications. The charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Another case occurred in Troy, Michigan, on September 12.

Oakland County prosecutors charged Peter Hamilton Northup, 79, with four counts of Aggravated Hate Crime after an encounter involving four Muslim men outside the Troy Public Library.

According to Oakland County prosecutors, the men were offering members of the public an opportunity to discuss Islam and the Quran when Northup allegedly approached them, expressed hatred toward Muslims and threatened to kill them while stating that he was armed. Police arrested Northup and reported that he was carrying a loaded pistol.

Authorities subsequently recovered 19 firearms after Troy Police sought an order restricting his access to weapons. The criminal charges remain allegations unless proven in court.

Concerns have extended beyond direct criminal threats.

In Texas, the September security bulletin documented repeated online attention directed toward Muslim students and Muslim Student Associations at public high schools. Posts highlighted Muslim students holding Friday prayers, criticized schools for providing space for prayer and, in one instance, called for parents to shut down a Muslim Student Association.

The bulletin also reported that approximately 50 people participated in an anti Islam demonstration outside the Islamic Association of Collin County in Plano on September 11. The mosque had notified law enforcement before the demonstration, and officers patrolled the area.

Taken together, the incidents show the range of security issues confronting Muslim communities. Some involve speech or demonstrations protected by the First Amendment. Others involve alleged threats of bombing, mass killing or violence that prompt criminal investigations.

The distinction matters. Criticism of Islam, protests outside mosques and offensive speech do not automatically constitute criminal conduct. Credible threats of violence, bomb threats and conduct placing individuals in fear of physical harm can present separate public safety and law enforcement concerns.

Federal guidance recommends that houses of worship prepare for those risks before an emergency occurs.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommends a layered approach to security that includes assigning responsibility for security decisions, maintaining emergency and incident response plans, conducting vulnerability assessments, establishing channels for reporting credible threats and protecting the outer and inner areas of religious facilities. CISA also specifically recommends considering the safety of children in religious schools, childcare programs and other activities.

For SMF, the recent cases reinforce the importance of preparation without allowing intimidation to interfere with religious life.

Recent threats against mosques and Muslim Americans are a serious reminder that houses of worship must take security planning seriously. No community should have to choose between openly practicing its faith and feeling safe. Muslim institutions should build strong relationships with local law enforcement, train staff and volunteers, document threats, and report concerning activity. At the same time, we cannot allow threats or intimidation to push Muslims out of public life or make families afraid to attend their mosques. — Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation

SMF encourages mosques, Islamic centers, schools and community organizations to maintain clear procedures for reporting threats, preserve threatening messages and social media posts, establish relationships with local law enforcement and periodically review emergency procedures with staff and volunteers.

Security planning does not require treating every hostile comment as an imminent danger. It requires institutions to have a process for distinguishing routine concerns from credible threats and acting quickly when circumstances warrant.

Muslim institutions remain open places of prayer, education and community life. Protecting those spaces requires awareness, preparation and cooperation while preserving the ability of Muslims to practice their faith openly and without intimidation.