Fact check Emmer blames Somali gangs for two assaults at schools

U. S. Rep. Tom Emmer's comments linking "Somali gangs" to two violent incidents in the Twin Cities have drawn significant backlash from local Somali American and Islamic organizations. During a Fox Business appearance, Emmer referenced an assault at a high school basketball game and a shooting at a graduation ceremony as gang-related, claiming the FBI is taking action against such groups.

However, court documents related to these incidents do not establish any direct gang connections; they refer instead to a "group" involved in the planning of the attacks. In the basketball game incident, five teenagers were charged, with one defendant, Mubashir Ali, admitting to second-degree rioting but not linking his actions to a gang. The second incident involved Hamza A. Said, charged with assault and possession of a machine gun, with no mention of gang ties in the complaint. In response to Emmer's remarks, organizations like Isuroon and CAIR criticized his comments as racist and divisive, arguing they unfairly target the Somali American community.

The situation worsened when the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services terminated a $428,000 grant intended for violence prevention programs in that community. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions surrounding crime and gang associations in the region.