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Tempe Police Take Threat Against Tabernacle Seriously
TEMPE, ARIZONA -- Residents near the Shalimar Country Club in Tempe,
Arizona were surprised to see leaflets circulated in their
neighborhood Monday that claimed "the Mormon Tabernacle is about to
come down!!!" Two residents called the Temple Police Department after
receiving the threatening fliers, and police say they have to take
the threat seriously.
It isn't clear how many of the leaflets were distributed or who
printed them. Nor do police know if the printer was referring to the
Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, the historic LDS Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, or to another
LDS building. Arizona LDS spokesman Wilford Anderson says that while
the Church will take precautions, "I don't expect that it's a
credible threat. You almost feel like the less attention given to it,
the better."
Tempe Police Department spokesman Sgt. Randy Fogner said the police
are investigating, and taking the threat seriously, "We view it as a
religious statement, but as a police department, we have to take that
information and document it. If there's any substantive proof that
it's a viable threat, we'd have to take some action on it."
The threat comes at a time when the LDS Church is receiving
significant media attention, as the 2002 Winter Olympics is about to
start in Salt Lake City, Utah. Security there has been increased as
officials worry about terrorist attacks during the games. Officials
don't expect an increased risk of attack on LDS facilities elsewhere.
Source:
Mormon 'threat' on leaflet not seen as credible
Phoenix AZ Republic 28Jan02 D1
By Patricia Biggs: The Arizona Republic
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