The FBI is investigating reports that someone fired four gunshots at a mosque in Meriden, Connecticut, last weekend. The shots went through the outer wall of the mosque and into the building. No one was inside at the time.
The mosque is called Baitul Aman -- the House of Peace. It’s part of a branch of Islam called Ahmadiyya. Salaam Bhatti is a spokesman for Ahmadiyya. He said he believes this was a response to terror attacks in Paris and Beirut last week. But he says it’s a misguided response.
“What the terrorists want is more terrorism, and we cannot give into that,” he said.
Bhatti said the Ahmadiyya branch of Islam is built around the idea of living a peaceful lifestyle. He said they spread their ideas through dialogue and interfaith events with non-Muslims.
“There’s no need to fight, and when we take this dialogue approach, this peaceful approach, we have such a better foundation that’s created with our neighbors and with new friends that we make throughout,” he said.
Bhatti said the mosque is organizing an open house this weekend to invite in other community and religious leaders and teach them about the Ahmadiyya branch of Islam.
