By: Citlaly Castillo-Thoren

The person who bombed the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in 2017 has now been charged in federal court. According to the Department of Justice, the charges where: “Intentionally defacing, damaging and destroying religious property because of the religious character of that property, intentionally obstructing and attempting to obstruct, by force and the threat of force, the free exercise of religious beliefs, conspiracy to commit federal felonies by means of fire and explosives, carrying and using a destructive device during and in relation to crimes of violence, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.”

The suspect was initially charged under the name Michel Hari, but they have since came out as transgender and her name is now Emily Clair Hari.

She was the leader of an anti-government militia from Illinois called the “White Rabbits”. She drove from Clarence, Illinois, to the mosque in Bloomington, Minnesota, in a rented pickup truck. She had strong anti Muslim beliefs and she attacked the mosque so the Muslims would feel like they’re not wanted in America.

Also, her federal defender is trying to say the attack was because of gender euphoria which caused her to have inner conflicts controlling her actions.

Emily was brought to trial and convicted as a man.

She arrived in Bloomington early on the morning of August 5, 2017, and went to the mosque and threw a pipe bomb through a window where it exploded. There were people praying in a room a couple rooms down. 12 people were hurt but there were no fatalities. On one of the days of the trial, they had the people affected by the bombing give testimony about how it affected them. 

Emily Claire Hari did not plead guilty, but was found guilty and sentenced to 53 years in prison.