Bomb squad is called after 'suspicious item' is found at a mosque in Arundel - as man is charged
A man has been charged over an alleged bomb hoax at a Gold Coast mosque.
Police were called to the Gold Coast Masjid in Arundel on Sunday night after a 'suspicious item' was found at the premises.
CCTV captured a shirtless man placing the device on the carpet of the men’s prayer area inside the mosque before he allegedly fled the scene in a van.
A 34-year-old Labrador man was arrested by police when he allegedly returned to the scene hours later.
He was charged with making a bomb hoax, trespassing and obstructing police. He remanded in custody to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.
The Explosive Ordinance Response Team later located the item and deemed it safe.
'There was no risk to the community,' a Queensland Police spokesperson told Daily Mail.
The local Muslim community is 'deeply upset' by the incident.
A man (captured on CCTV) has been charged over an alleged bomb hoax at a Queensland mosque
Pictured is the 'suspicious item' found at the Gold Coast Masjid in Arundel on Sunday night
'Even though it was a non-explosive device, we are very concerned someone would (allegedly) go through the procedure of making the device, designing it to look like a bomb, and sneaking into a place of worship during prime time,' mosque chairman Hussin Goss told Daily Mail.
'Acts like these put terror into the community.'
Though the motivations of the alleged offender are not clear, Mr Goss said there was 'no doubt' Islamophobia was on the rise in Australia.
'We need peace. We need so-called politicians like Bob Katter and Pauline Hanson to stop making these claims for their two minutes of fame,' he said.
Mr Goss remains in hourly contact with police who, he said, agreed the incident was 'very concerning'.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said that his sympathies 'go out to the mosque and the Muslim people there too.'
'It is sad, but we don't know all the details as yet,' he told Daily Mail.
Islamic College of Brisbane chief executive Ali Kadri thanked police for their swift response and urged the community to take the incident seriously.
The local Muslim community is 'deeply upset' over the alleged incident at the Gold Coast Masjid mosque (pictured)
'We urge our leaders to treat these threats with the seriousness they deserve,' Mr Kadri posted online.
'Our families, our children, and our places of worship must be protected like anyone else’s.
'At ICB, and across our mosques and centres, we will continue to stand strong.
'We will raise confident Muslim children who live proudly in their faith and contribute positively to this country, while demanding the same right to safety and dignity that every Australian deserves.
'Hate will not win.'
