The Muslim leader killed in a shootout with agents was using his idea of religion to justify part of his criminal activity, the head of the Detroit FBI office said Wednesday.
“The criminal activity was in support of his beliefs,” Andrew Arena, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI office, told the Free Press Wednesday. “This is about criminal activity, not about religion.”
Arena also defended his agents’ actions in the case.
“I’m confident the agents acted appropriately,” Arena said. “This was not something I took lightly. I put a lot of time and thought to make sure we acted appropriately.”
Abdullah was shot dead in Dearborn by FBI agents on Oct. 28 during a raid. Authorities said he opened fire first. Federal officials say in a criminal complaint that he was an Islamic extremist who bought and sold stolen goods with his followers. Eleven of his followers have been arrested in the case.
Some Muslims have raised questions about the shooting, but Arena said:
“I keep cautioning people: wait until the facts come out. They will come out pretty soon as the shooting inquiry is completed.”
Regarding the issue of Islam, Arena said:
“I don’t think this case was about religion. This case is about criminal activity.”
In the criminal complaint, federal officials say that Abdullah told his followers to give him a certain percentage of profits from stolen goods in order to give it religious sanction.
“Abdullah related a story he claimed was in the Koranin which people in Mecca and Medina would rob and steal from the caravans, and then donate a portion of their ill-gotten gains to benefit Allah,” the criminal complaint reads. “Abdullah concluded that story in the Koran justifies stealing, robbing, and other illegal acts, as long as they profit Islam.”
Family members of Abdullah say the allegations are wrong and that he helped the poor.