Somali Student Threatened With Air Gun at Stillwater Area Public School: Muslim Leaders

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) has called for increased protection of Muslim students in that state's schools following an incident at a Stillwater Area Public School. The group says a 5th grade student allegedly brought an air pistol to Afton-Lakeland Elementary School after he threatened to shoot a Somali-American Muslim 3rd grade student.

Parents of the student reported to CAIR-MN that on Friday, Nov. 11, the 5th grader threatened to shoot the Muslim student. On Monday, Nov. 14, the same 5th grader reportedly brought an air pistol to school. The school bus driver confiscated the air pistol and called the police, according to a news release from CAIR-MN.

"Thankfully, a major tragedy was averted by the quick action of the school bus driver," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein in a statement. "We are asking all school districts across the state to step up protection for Muslim and other minority students in the wake of this incident and because of the wave of racist and anti-Muslim incidents nationwide following the November 8 election."

Hussein added that an early response to bullying incidents can prevent further harm to students.

"We had a situation earlier this month where a student brought an airsoft pistol on the bus. Due to data privacy, we cannot comment on the specifics of this issue," Carissa Keister, the district's community engagement manager, said in a statement, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

"As demonstrated by the quick action of the bus driver, we take threats to any of our students very seriously," she said. "School administrators cooperated fully with local law enforcement to keep our students safe and resolve the matter without incident."

Image via Shutterstock