Man in jail after making bomb threat at Benton Charter Township mosque

BENTON CHARTER TWP., Mich. — A New Buffalo man is in jail after making a bomb threat at a mosque in southwest Michigan. 

New charging documents show Malik Mohammed Nisar, 36, made a bomb threat at the Islamic Association of Southwest Michigan in order to have the police ‘lay them out.’

Nisar has been charged with making a terrorist threat and false report of a bomb. He admitted to police he made a bomb threat at the mosque on Napier Avenue on Friday, April 26. 

The Berrien County prosecutor declined to comment on this case. 

According to a Benton Township Police Department release, the mosque was evacuated after the department was alerted of a bomb threat inside of the building. The department said the worshippers inside were unaware of the threat. 

Members of the Islamic Association of Southwest Michigan did not respond to an interview request on Wednesday.

However, after securing the building, officers were unable to locate a bomb or explosive, according to the document. A mosque leader told police Nisar had recently visited the mosque. 

According to a probable cause affidavit, police found Nisar less than a block from the building. When detectives interviewed him, Nisar said he made the threat because he claims ‘they are illegal and here as refugees.’

Michigan’s Council on American-Islamic Relations released the following statement about this case:

"We welcome the swift investigation and arrest by the Benton Harbor Township Police of the individual who threatened to blow up one of our houses of worship in Michigan.”

If found guilty of making a false terrorism threat, Nisar could receive a 20 year maximum sentence. If found guilty of making a false bomb threat, he could receive a 4 year felony sentence. 

Nisar is currently being held at the Berrien County Jail. He is set for a preliminary exam conference on Wednesday, May 8.