Minneapolis Mosque Denies Link to Missing Somali Men

Leaders of the Abubakar As-Saddique mosque in south Minneapolis are again disputing allegations they may be connected to the disappearance of young Somali men from Minnesota.

Rumors have circulated the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in south Minneapolis was somehow recruiting young men to return to Somalia and fight in a holy war.

Tuesday, leaders of the mosque issued a statement. Abdirashid Abdi, a board member and former executive director of the mosque, said officials there "share the pain and grief that the families of the youth who went to Somalia are experiencing."

He added: "It is unfortunate that some individuals in the Somali community unfairly accused Abubakar Center to have links to the disappearance of the Somali young men. We strongly deny these unsubstantiated allegations. Abubakar Center didn't recruit, finance or otherwise facilitate in any way, shape or form the travel of these youth."

The trigger for Tuesday's news conference was a report in Sunday's Star Tribune on the disappearance six months ago of Mustafa Ali, an 18-year-old St. Paul man who had been active in the mosque.

The mosque plans to hold an open house, and has invited law enforcement agencies to meet with community and religious leaders.

Last December, FOX 9's Tom Lyden spoke with mosque attorney Mahir Sherif, who used an Eid al-Adha prayer service as a forum to denounce allegations they have any role in a local terror network.

"The media is the problem," Sherif said. "Our mosque should not be talked about bad things. Suicide and other acts of terrorism are forbidden in the Islamic faith."

Friends and relatives of three Somali men confirmed in December their loved ones left Minneapolis together on Nov. 4. The men were identified as Burhan Hassan, 17, Mohamoud Hassan, 18, and Abdisalam Ali, 19.

DNA tests confirmed Shirwa Ahmed was one of five suicide bombers who killed himself and 29 others October 29 in northern Somalia.

Ahmed was also a Minnesotan and a naturalized U.S. citizen. The FBI helped return his remains to his family.

An FBI investigation is ongoing and expanding. The investigation now includes missing Somali men from across the U.S. and Canada who are all suspected of returning to Somalia to fight in the jihad.