“You guys are lucky I don’t know how to build a bomb because I would have done that,” Tnuza Jamal Hassan, a Muslim student, allegedly told investigators, reported Twin Cities. Hassan faces charges for trying to leave the country to join al-Qaeda, trying to recruit two classmates, and setting fire to nine university buildings, including a day care center which contained 33 kids.
She told authorities she set the fires as her own jihad “in retaliation for the alleged misconduct of U.S. military forces in Muslim lands.” She wanted them to kill innocent people, but sprinkler systems fortunately put them out.
Hassan attempted to reach Afghanistan last September to join al-Qaeda, but got stopped in Dubai because she lacked the visa to go further. The former student faces up to 48 years in prison and is being held on bail of $100,000, but the Minneapolis United States Attorney’s Office says the prospective jihadi “presents an extraordinary danger to the community and a significant risk of flight and therefore should remain in custody pending trial.” She’ll be in court on February 28.
The school said “we are shocked and saddened by the reported statements made by…Tnuza Hassan.”
“In addition to my sadness, I have a tremendous amount of gratitude knowing that all of our students, faculty, staff, and other community members are safe,” said Becky Roloff, St. Catherine’s president. “We are proud to be an open and welcoming University that embraces diversity. As such, we strongly believe that one person does not represent an entire group, and we deeply value all Muslim members of our community.”
