Dayton to Visit Minneapolis Mosque Struck by Burglar

MINNEAPOLIS  - Gov. Mark Dayton plans to visit a Minneapolis Islamic center that was struck by a burglar.

Dayton's office says he'll visit the Umatul Islam Center in south Minneapolis on Sunday morning.

The director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says members of the state's Muslim community are concerned about a possible motive for the break-in. Jaylani Hussein says surveillance video shows a man breaking into the mosque late Wednesday.

Officials with the Islamic center tell CAIR that the burglar broke doors and windows and stole equipment and files.

Hussein says the damage is estimated at more than $5,000. He says it appears the break-in "was not a simple theft."

A Minneapolis police spokesman says the department will continue to provide extra patrols in the area.