MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle SWAT arrest Greenwood man for allegedly threatening mosque

Jun 14, 2016, 3:10 PM | Updated: 6:17 pm

Seattle, greenwood, mosque...

Seattle police took a Greenwood man into custody after he allegedly made online threats to a local mosque. (KIRO 7)

(KIRO 7)

Seattle police called in a SWAT team and negotiators to a North Seattle neighborhood Tuesday afternoon after receiving information about threats made to a local mosque.

The incident happened in the wake of other threats made to a mosque in Redmond.

Related: Online threats made to Seattle-area mosques

The suspect, a 37-year-old man, has been taken into custody. Police were notified by the man’s out-of-state friend about threats he was reportedly making online.

“We received information about Internet threats, and working with our partners, we were able to respond,” Captain Sean O’Donell said.

“We take this very seriously,” he said. “We are very aware of the situation in Orlando and we are taking steps to ensure the safety of the individuals at the mosque … we received information and acted on it immediately out of an abundance of caution.”

The man allegedly posted threats to the Seattle mosque over the Internet. In a separate online post he also allegedly claimed to have purchased an assault rifle and extra ammunition.

Police made contact with the man at his Greenwood apartment at around 3:30 p.m. He came out on his own volition, police said.

Police reportedly had contact with the same man in the past over other harassing comments he made to another local mosque. Seattle police are working with the FBI to further investigate the matter. The man is currently being investigated for malicious harassment, according to Seattle police. It is expected that he will be booked into King County Jail.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

2 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

4 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

5 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

5 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

6 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

9 hours ago

Seattle SWAT arrest Greenwood man for allegedly threatening mosque