Catholic and Mormon religious organizations were put on alert this week after an “islamist jihadist” threatened to destroy all Catholics and Mormons.
The Islamist made specific threats against the local churches.
He said in two weeks “everyone will know who he is.”
The Coloradoan reported:
Fort Collins police have asked local religious organizations to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior after a self-proclaimed “Islamist jihadist” threatened Mormons and Catholics “would be destroyed” in the next two weeks, a memo sent by authorities said.
The man hadn’t been seen in the Fort Collins area as of Sunday, and there is no immediate danger to the public, Fort Collins Police Services Sgt. Mike West told the Coloradoan.
No further details, including the man’s identity, were immediately available. Threats were made in general regard to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Catholic Church; no local organizations were specifically referenced in the FCPS memo.
Rev. Steven Voss said the Archdiocese of Denver shared with him on Friday the Fort Collins Police Services memo and reading its words of caution made his “blood run cold.” But between Sunday Masses at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 300 W. Mountain Ave., Voss said he’s “pretty confident” he and his parishioners won’t have an interaction with the man he was told was “nonviolent.”
To give worshipers a sense of peace, he asked an FCPS officer to keep watch during weekend services.
When he read the police bulletin during Mass Saturday, an “audible gasp” escaped those seated in the pews. A day later, “after the initial, kind of having your breath taken away moment,” there was a greater sense of calm, he believes was due in part to police presence.
