By Vicky Agnew
Sun-Sentinel August 28, 2002

Anti-terrorism agents fanned out across the state Tuesday visiting mosques and Islamic centers speaking to leaders about security. The visits to worship and learning sites followed last week’s arrest of a Tampa area doctor accused of planning to blow up mosques and Islamic centers throughout the state.Gov. Jeb Bush ordered the visits Monday after Muslim leaders told him many Muslims were afraid, and that they want to work with officials to ensure people are safe. Agents with the Regional Domestic Security Task Force had a list of 100 sites they were ordered to visit Tuesday, but some Islamic centers said they were skipped. “Efforts were made to visit each site on the list,” said Special Agent Alan Latour of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. “In some cases, those lists are being updated. It’s hard to tell if some of those might be new.” Tampa podiatrist Robert J. Goldstein, 37, was charged Friday with possession of a non-registered destructive device and attempting to use an explosive to damage and destroy Islamic centers. The explosives were found at the foot specialist’s Seminole townhouse. Police also said they found a typed list of about 50 Islamic worship centers in the state and a detailed plan for bombing an Islamic education center. A federal judge in Tampa on Tuesday ordered a psychiatric evaluation and continued detention for Goldstein. “If it had been one guy with a list and a gun, I’d be less worried,” said Hassan Shareef, spokesman for the Islamic Center in Boca Raton. “But this was one guy with a list and a whole bunch of stuff, and there’s got to be other guys out there.” On Tuesday, Muhammed Irshad, of the Islamic School of Miami, said two agents visited for more than an hour. “They are actually advising us how to take precautionary measures,” Irshad said. “We are feeling confident because we got information about all the safety measures the government is taking toward us. ”But

Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout, of the American Muslim Association of North America in Miami, said no one visited that center. “The only person who called me was from the Miami Police Department. He offered police patrols around our Islamic center and Islamic businesses,” Abdelaziz said. “None of the people have been contacting me from the government. They should’ve done that before. ”He added that he has been telling members not to go out in public. “Due to the many prejudiced people around. We can’t fix that overnight,” he said. Altaf Ali, Florida director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he was not worried that no one contacted the Nur-Ul-Islam mosque he visits in Cooper City. “I went by there today and was told no one came there,” Ali said. “There are so many in the state of Florida…I know that in one day no substantial contact would have been made. ”Ali said he was reassured by the state’s efforts and plans to help agents contact the 60-70 mosques in his organization. FDLE spokeswoman Lisa Lagergren said some were closed and would receive visits when they are open. “We made every effort today to visit them all,” Lagergren said. “Basically, we just went out and made contacts today. ”Agents were told to inquire about security concerns and to offer help but not to demand mosques take any specific action. “In every situation, every Islamic center is probably going to be different,” Lagergren said. ATF Special Agent Carlos Baixauli said agents took a 20-page pamphlet called The Threat Assessment Guide for Houses of Worship to each location. The pamphlet teaches houses of worship to assess their vulnerability to bombings and arson and how to take security measures. “It’s something we came up with when all the black churches in the south were being burned,” Baixauli said. “This initial visit was just to show them what was available. If they needed further assistance we could make arrangements to come out and go over the pamphlet.“

Staff Writers Noaki Schwartz and Tanya Weinberg and the Associated Press contributed to this story.Vicky Agnew can be reached at vagnew@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7922. South Florida Sun-Sentinel 0 Comments Edit Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-mosques082802.story?coll=sfla%2Dnews%2Dsfla