Texas mosque to beef up security after Muslim student is attacked by passerby who thought he's ISIS member

Heavily armed civilians join protesters outside a mosque in Irving, Texas, on Nov. 21, 2015. Reuters

A mosque in Austin, Texas is planning to beef up security following the Paris terror attacks and assault on a Muslim student in the city.

Umber Esmail, imam of the Nueces Mosque near the University of Texas, said they want to ensure that students are safe when they come to the mosque.

"We need to provide security for them, that should be our top priority," Esmail told KEYETV.

Esmail also said a Muslim student was pushed to the ground in the city by a passerby a day after the Paris attacks.

"Because he had headphones on, the guy yelled at him saying are you taking instructions from ISIS? This is like a wakeup call for us, we need to do something because we have students coming here," he said.

KXAN reported that the student was wearing a Muslim Students Association shirt and the man spat in his face three times and said, "Are you getting orders from ISIS ... you dirty [expletive]."

The student posted the incident on the UT Class of 2019 Facebook group.

"It sickens me to know that no matter how hard I try, there still exists a blur between myself and the decency a human life entails," said the student.

The student said he hates ISIS just like other Americans but has to pay the price for being a Muslim.

Esmail said they are asking the Austin police to do a security survey on the mosque to see what can be improved to increase security including changing locks.

"If these bushes were so high they were covering the window and they left a lot of space for a bad guy to hide behind we would ask the homeowner to trim those bushes back," said Austin Police Department Officer Darrell Grayson.

Grayson said since the Paris attacks they have increased patrols around mosques and churches.

"We don't have any specific threats against any church or mosque or anything but it's just we want to stay ahead of it," he said.

related articles
Worse than Islamic State? Why Boko Haram is top of the terror league table
Worse than Islamic State? Why Boko Haram is top of the terror league table

Worse than Islamic State? Why Boko Haram is top of the terror league table

U.S. policies will endanger \'thousands\' of American lives while giving refugees \'paid vacation\'— Alabama legislator
U.S. policies will endanger 'thousands' of American lives while giving refugees 'paid vacation'— Alabama legislator

U.S. policies will endanger 'thousands' of American lives while giving refugees 'paid vacation'— Alabama legislator

Indiana governor taken to court for refusal to allow Syrian refugees in his state
Indiana governor taken to court for refusal to allow Syrian refugees in his state

Indiana governor taken to court for refusal to allow Syrian refugees in his state

Cameron calls for air strikes against Islamic State in Syria
Cameron calls for air strikes against Islamic State in Syria

Cameron calls for air strikes against Islamic State in Syria

\'Thousands\' of ISIS terrorists may already be in U.S. cities, waiting for attack signal, security experts\' group warns
'Thousands' of ISIS terrorists may already be in U.S. cities, waiting for attack signal, security experts' group warns

'Thousands' of ISIS terrorists may already be in U.S. cities, waiting for attack signal, security experts' group warns

Should we bomb ISIS in Syria? Christian responses to Cameron
Should we bomb ISIS in Syria? Christian responses to Cameron

Should we bomb ISIS in Syria? Christian responses to Cameron

News
Bible sales surge by 87% as Generation Z rediscovers faith
Bible sales surge by 87% as Generation Z rediscovers faith

Bible sales in the UK have risen sharply, increasing by 87 per cent from £2.69 million in 2019 to £5.02 million in 2024, according to new data from SPCK Group and Nielsen Book Data.

Lent and Ramadan have sparked complaints over the ‘woke’ storyline in BBC Radio drama The Archers
Lent and Ramadan have sparked complaints over the ‘woke’ storyline in BBC Radio drama The Archers

BBC Radio 4’s long-running rural drama The Archers has come under fire for its recent exploration of Ramadan, with many listeners criticising the decision to feature a Christian character, Lynda Snell, fasting in the run-up to Lent.

Can Christian civilization thrive without community?
Can Christian civilization thrive without community?

The West’s retreat from its Christian roots, worn down by progressive ideologies and colonial guilt, risks unravelling a legacy built on the belief that every person bears God’s image and is redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice.

Church cautiously welcomes Northern Ireland government programme
Church cautiously welcomes Northern Ireland government programme

The document outlines the governing priorities of Northern Ireland’s government.