Local officials gather following the Feb. 12 arson fire at the Al-Huda Mosque, including Dearborn City Councilmembers Mustapha Hammoud (second from left) and Kamal Alsawafy (third from left), Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun (fifth from left), Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud (eighth from left) and Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin (ninth from left).
A man cleans up debris at an entrance to the Al-Huda Mosque following the Feb. 12 arson fire.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Following an early morning arson investigation Feb. 12 at the Al-Huda Islamic Association, 8835 W. Warren Ave., police officers pursued and fatally shot a fleeing man who was firing at them.
The arsonist and armed man, Ahmed Taqi, 37, ignored police officer commands to drop his weapon. As he continued to shoot at police officers, he was shot in the neck during a pursuit on southbound Lonyo Avenue, which ended in Detroit.
No police officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire.
Detroit and Michigan State Police are handling the investigation.
In a social media post, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said Taqi acted alone, and may have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time.
He commended the police officers for trying to get the man to relinquish his gun, even as he was firing at them.
“This was a tragic situation that resulted in loss of life,” Hammoud said. “May God protect our officers who endured extraordinary trauma and put themselves in harm’s way to protect the community from imminent harm.”
He wished patience to Taqi’s family, and peace and strength to the Al-Huda Mosque community.
“We stand with you as we overcome this tragedy, and hope to emerge stronger,” Hammoud said.
Also in a social media post, Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun said any act of violence toward a house of worship must be condemned.
“Whether it be a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or any other place of worship, these acts are hurtful and disturbing,” he said.
The mosque fire also has been condemned by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Michigan chapter of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League.