Man before court accused of AK-47 threat to mosque
The case of a man accused of storming a mosque and threatening to shoot worshipers with an AK-47 assault rifle has been presented to the court.
Louis Francesco Rapisarda, 33, of Mitchelton, failed to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday for the first appearance of charges of public nuisance and disturbing a place of worship.
Police allege Rapisarda went to the Masjid-e-Taqwa mosque in Bald Hills on May 10 and made verbal threats to worshipers outside, telling them he had an assault rifle in his vehicle.
He is accused of entering the mosque shortly before 11am and making threats before being chased out of the mosque by members of the congregation.
No one was physically injured.
Rapisarda, a care support worker, did not enter a plea and was ordered not to attend the mosque or Mitchelton Presbyterian church.
His case was postponed to June 19 for hearing.
Muslim leaders said the case was part of a growing wave of intimidation, harassment and violence targeting mosques and Islamic institutions.
The Federation of Islamic Councils of Australia said the incident was “frightening” for worshipers and formed part of a “disturbing national pattern” of threats, intimidation and violence against Muslim communities.
AFIC chief Rateb Jneid said the incident should not be dismissed as casual, warning that anti-Muslim hatred had escalated from online harassment to “physical threats, arson, intimidation and allegations of planned violence”.
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) described the alleged threats as a “serious breach” of the safety and sanctity of places of worship.
He warned of the “increasing normalization of anti-Muslim sentiment, threats, intimidation and acts of hate” against Australian Muslims and their mosques.
In December, the Masjid Al-Taqwa Mosque was targeted when vandals sprayed swastikas and anti-Muslim graffiti on its exterior wall.
Local Labor MP Bisma Asif said places of worship should be “places of peace” and no one, regardless of faith, should fear for their safety when they gather to pray.
He said the rise of racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism was fueled by politicians using racial discrimination to win votes and those “too weak to voice it”.
Both AFIC and ANIC welcomed the swift police response and laying of charges and said they expected the alleged attack to be treated with the seriousness of a hate crime.
Police said all threats to cultural and religious communities were treated with the utmost seriousness and urged anyone who felt threatened or afraid to contact authorities.
