8-10 Somali Teens Armed With Hammers Attack Bystanders At Rail Station In MN; Media Oddly Quiet

randlepatrickmcmurphy · May 25, 2019

Snopes has already debunked this:

In May 2019, a cluster of right-leaning websites exploded into action after unconfirmed reports emerged of a racially motivated, anti-white “gang assault” perpetrated by a “mob” of Somali youths supposedly attacking commuters with hammers at a train station in Minneapolis. Many of the articles criticized the “mainstream media” for failing to report on the incident.
Click to expand...

In May 2019, a cluster of right-leaning websites exploded into action after unconfirmed reports emerged of a racially motivated, anti-white “gang assault” perpetrated by a “mob” of Somali youths supposedly attacking commuters with hammers at a train station in Minneapolis. Many of the articles criticized the “mainstream media” for failing to report on the incident.

On 21 May, Matt Vespa wrote for the conservative Townhall.com website that:

“There’s media silence in Minneapolis over an attack executed by a group of Somali teens that reportedly attacked bystanders East Bank Light Rail station last Friday. It looks like it was racially motivated. According to reports, anyone who was white or looked like they had money was targeted. The teens used hammers and bars as weapons.”

Writing for the Federalist Papers website, Carmine Sabia described the incident as “a vicious attack on innocent people”:

“A mob of 8 – 10 Somalis attacked a group of travelers at the East Bank Light Rail Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week. The attack occurred on Friday but for some reason the media has been stone cold silent on the attack, the attackers and the victims, Alpha News reported … When a group of Covington Catholic students wearing Make America Great Again hats stared at a native American CNN reported the story daily for days. But when a group of Somali kids of the same approximate age committed a vicious attack on innocent people with hammers they do not report a word of it.”

Infowars, the website headed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, similarly reported that “A group of 8-10 Somali teenagers armed with hammers attacked and injured several people at a rail station in Minnesota.” On the “American Thinker” website, Thomas Lifson described the incident as a “horrific attack,” and the “Red State” website also reported that a group of between eight and 10 Somali youths had attacked commuters with hammers, causing injuries.

Several observers saw fit to connect the incident to U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, based solely and exclusively on her Somali heritage. (None of the articles that connected her to the incident made mention of any of the neighborhood’s other political representatives at the national, state or local levels.)

The website StarPolitical.com wrote that “Freshman Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar who has spent a great deal of time criticizing President Trump seems to have some problems in her home district …”

Sabia observed on TheFederalistPapers.org that “The attack also happened in the same district that Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee, is from and she has said nothing on the attack,” while Lifson wrote for AmericanThinker.com that “So far as I can determine, Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Somali refugee who represents Minneapolis in Congress and who also seems entirely ungrateful to the nation that paid for her to leave her hellhole homeland and granted her citizenship, has so far not commented on the incident.”

Townhall’s Matt Vespa drew an even more direct link between Omar and the Minneapolis incident, claiming that both were examples of purported Somali immigrant ingratitude to the United States:

“[Red State’s Elizabeth] Vaughn added this story was shared by Glenn Reynolds (aka Instapundit), who aptly noted this was just a case of Somali teens showing their gratitude to the nation who gave them refuge. Hey, this isn’t an isolated incident. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who represents Minneapolis, is probably one of the most ungrateful people we’ve ever offered refuge …”

In reality, the entire episode provided a warning about the dangers of using unconfirmed, uncorroborated preliminary information as the basis of news reports and opinion pieces, something that the much-criticized “mainstream media” (despite its flaws) tends not to do, and rightly did not do in this case.

According to University of Minnesota police, the incident involved no assault and no injuries, although the actions of the perpetrators likely caused concern to bystanders. The arresting officers’ report on the matter explicitly stated that racial bias played no part in the actions of the two juveniles, who were of Somali heritage and were ultimately cited for disorderly conduct and other misdemeanor offenses. The two boys carried two pipes, not hammers.

What actually happened
Snopes.com obtained a copy of the redacted University of Minnesota (UMN) Police Department report on the incident, which outlines the following information.

Around 9.45 p.m. on Saturday 17 May, UMN police officers were dispatched to the East Bank train station on Washington Avenue Southeast, next to the University of Minnesota, after receiving reports of a group of Somali youths with weapons. One of the arresting officers, Amanda Carlson, gave the following account. Redactions are signified with “(R).”

“Upon arrival to the East Bank LRT I saw a group of Somali juveniles running away from officers traveling westbound on Washington Ave SE and turn southbound between Moos Tower and [the] Molecular and Cellular Biology building. I ran after them and heard officers yelling at the juveniles to stop. I turned onto Delaware St SE where officers had several Somali juveniles lying prone with their arms spread out. I placed a male, later identified as (R) in handcuffs and performed a search incident to arrest. All other parties were placed in handcuffs and detained by other officers that had arrived on scene.”

The first juvenile, detained by Carlson, provided what turned out to be a false name and date of birth.

Carlson continued: “Through further investigation, it was found that (R) and (R) were the two individuals brandishing metal pipes towards others on the light rail platform. Dispatch sent recorded images of the incident on the East Bank LTR which showed (R) holding a metal pipe and handing it to (R). (R) and (R) were placed in the rear of a squad car and transported to UMPD by Officer Brackett.

“All other parties that had fled on foot and were detained were ultimately released from police custody at the scene. I issued a citation to (R) for disorderly conduct as he engaged in offensive, abusive, boisterous and noisy conduct tending to arouse alarm, flee police as he attempted to evade or elude peace officers, who were acting in the lawful discharge of official duty, by means of running, and false information to police as he provided a fictitious name and false date of birth.”

Carlson wrote that two metal pipes were taken from the two young men who received the citations.

The second arresting officer, Matthew Williams, provided a similar account of the incident, one in which he pursued the group of youths, repeatedly shouting after them “Police, stop.” When they eventually stopped running, Williams told them to lie on their stomachs on the ground, with “their arms extended out to their sides.” He continued:

“I aired to dispatch I had nine people proned out on the ground … As other officers began arriving at the turnaround I performed a more accurate count of the number of individuals laying on the ground and observed there to be seven Somali males lying on the ground. I aired this updated information to dispatch that there were seven people proned out on the ground. I was standing over two of the males and had observed the five other people had been placed in handcuffs. I then placed handcuffs on each of the two males I was standing over and informed both of them they were under arrest for fleeing from police on foot … Once all seven males had been placed in handcuffs, officers began identifying the seven Somali males and further investigation began to determine who had been brandishing weapons on the light rail platform …”

In the end, UMN police cited two juvenile males on suspicion of disorderly conduct and fleeing a police officer on foot. One of the two was also cited on suspicion of providing a police officer with a false name. All of the alleged crimes are misdemeanors. The investigation is closed.

Contrary to the aforementioned claims of a “vicious attack,” “horrific attack,” and “gang assault,” the redacted police report only described the two cited youths as “brandishing” and “carrying” two pipes, and did not mention any assault or attack by any of the youths. Although the incident was likely concerning and unpleasant for bystanders, a UMN spokesperson confirmed to Snopes that, “There were no known injuries as a result of this incident.”

The two individuals who were cited were identified as having carried the pipes because police had security camera footage from the train station. Despite the availability of such video footage, none of the youths was charged or cited with any assault offenses.

Spread of misinformation
The claim of an “attack” resulting in injuries appears to have originated in a police dispatch call that was shared by the website Alpha News. In the audio, which can be heard here, a police dispatcher states:

“[UMN Police Department] is asking for assistance from Metro Transit [Police] and Minneapolis [Police] for a group of eight to 10 males at the East Bank light rail station chasing people around with hammers. They do have some people injured. They’re sending us more information, but they’re requesting assistance.”

So the claims of an attack with hammers causing injuries were not fabricated, but they were based on initial, unconfirmed reports taken from online police scanners. Such preliminary details are undoubtedly of interest, but they should never be assumed to be accurate. In the case of the 17 May East Bank incident, those initial reports did indeed turn out to be inaccurate, as evidenced by the report filed by the arresting officers.

Likewise, the claim that the actions of the youths — which we now know did not involve any actual physical assault — were “racially motivated” appears to have been based on a single uncorroborated account posted to Facebook by an individual named as “Jay Hall,” who claimed to have witnessed the incident and wrote “… It was a group of Somali young males with hammers and bars. They were attacking anyone who looked like they had money or were white”
Click to expand...

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/somali-teens-hammers/

When, oh when, will you cons stop wasting your time at conspiracy sites like Townhall, Redstate, Infowars and Federalistpapers? It doesn't take much effort to gather all the facts before spreading misinformation around. You just end up looking like fools when you jump on anything that sounds right to you and supports your ideology. Or maybe the hate keeps you warm?

mudman · May 25, 2019

randlepatrickmcmurphy said: ↑

When, oh when, will you cons stop wasting your time at conspiracy sites like Townhall, Redstate, Infowars and Federalistpapers? It doesn't take much effort to gather all the facts before spreading misinformation around. You just end up looking like fools when you jump on anything that sounds right to you and supports your ideology. Or maybe the hate keeps you warm?
Click to expand...

You are giving a description of the left far more so than the right.

RP12 · May 25, 2019

randlepatrickmcmurphy said: ↑

Snopes has already debunked this:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/somali-teens-hammers/

When, oh when, will you cons stop wasting your time at conspiracy sites like Townhall, Redstate, Infowars and Federalistpapers? It doesn't take much effort to gather all the facts before spreading misinformation around. You just end up looking like fools when you jump on anything that sounds right to you and supports your ideology. Or maybe the hate keeps you warm?

Click to expand...

Group of teens... Two armed with pipes.. what is the issue?

You do know those sites you hate were just reporting what was heard over police radio right?
So the claims of an attack with hammers causing injuries were not fabricated, but they were based on initial, unconfirmed reports taken from online police scanners. Such preliminary details are undoubtedly of interest, but they should never be assumed to be accurate. In the case of the 17 May East Bank incident, those initial reports did indeed turn out to be inaccurate, as evidenced by the report filed by the arresting officers.

Not... Fabricated.. From your precious Snopes you can go back to your ranting now.

mdrobster · May 25, 2019

RP12 said: ↑

Group of teens... Two armed with pipes.. what is the issue?

You do know those sites you hate were just reporting what was heard over police radio right?
So the claims of an attack with hammers causing injuries were not fabricated, but they were based on initial, unconfirmed reports taken from online police scanners. Such preliminary details are undoubtedly of interest, but they should never be assumed to be accurate. In the case of the 17 May East Bank incident, those initial reports did indeed turn out to be inaccurate, as evidenced by the report filed by the arresting officers.

Not... Fabricated.. From your precious Snopes you can go back to your ranting now.
Click to expand...

it seems trump supporters are incapable of owing up to their mistakes. it isnt the 1st time.

the other posters did the leg work to get to the truth, they are most certainly owed that much.

yasureoktoo · May 25, 2019

mdrobster said: ↑

it seems trump supporters are incapable of owing up to their mistakes. it isnt the 1st time.

the other posters did the leg work to get to the truth, they are most certainly owed that much.
Click to expand...

And your post made no sense, Is everyone you disagree with a Trump supporter.
He shouldn't even be a factor here.

Jestsayin · May 25, 2019

Just some people doing' something.

Par10 · May 26, 2019

For the record, hammers kill more people in the US than AR15s.

Andrew Jackson · May 26, 2019

randlepatrickmcmurphy said: ↑

Snopes has already debunked this:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/somali-teens-hammers/

When, oh when, will you cons stop wasting your time at conspiracy sites like Townhall, Redstate, Infowars and Federalistpapers? It doesn't take much effort to gather all the facts before spreading misinformation around. You just end up looking like fools when you jump on anything that sounds right to you and supports your ideology. Or maybe the hate keeps you warm?

Click to expand...

Obviously, you are correct.

The headline is complete mischaracterized RW BS Fantasy.

Of course, your statement of FACT is bound to fall on deaf ears at a Forum that leans 80+% Pro-Trump RW.

This thread is a Complete joke and should be moved to the Conspiracy Section.

yasureoktoo · May 26, 2019

Andrew Jackson said: ↑

O

Of course, your statement of FACT is bound to fall on deaf ears at a Forum that leans 80+% Pro-Trump RW.

n.
Click to expand...

WTF does this have to do with Trump.

Andrew Jackson · May 26, 2019

yasureoktoo said: ↑

WTF does this have to do with Trump.
Click to expand...

It you quote me, please use the ENTIRE quote.

Don't cherry pick sentences and take them out of context.

That isn't a good look. Thanks in advance.

US Conservative · May 26, 2019

yasureoktoo said: ↑

WTF does this have to do with Trump.
Click to expand...

TDS is real.

truth and justice · May 26, 2019

yasureoktoo said: ↑

And your post made no sense, Is everyone you disagree with a Trump supporter.
He shouldn't even be a factor here.
Click to expand...

It shouldn't but the stats point that he is a factor.... Trump supporters do fall for and propagate fake news and continue to do so even after presented evidence as seen in this thread

yasureoktoo · May 26, 2019

truth and justice said: ↑

It shouldn't but the stats point that he is a factor.... Trump supporters do fall for and propagate fake news and continue to do so even after presented evidence as seen in this thread
Click to expand...

LOLOL

That's kind of a leap of faith, to claim what Trump supporters do.

LOL

yasureoktoo · May 26, 2019

Andrew Jackson said: ↑

It you quote me, please use the ENTIRE quote.

Don't cherry pick sentences and take them out of context.

That isn't a good look. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I was going to make a post on lemon merengue pie
Wonder how the Trump supporters will try to spin it.

mdrobster · May 26, 2019

yasureoktoo said: ↑

And your post made no sense, Is everyone you disagree with a Trump supporter.
He shouldn't even be a factor here.
Click to expand...

Tell you what, why don't we start counting how many and how often Trump supporters get suckered for fake news, and juxtapose them with non Trump supporters getting suckered for fake news

Mr_Truth · May 26, 2019

US Conservative said: ↑

What legitimate reason would a gang of "teens" have for openly brandishing guns at others?
Click to expand...

that did not happen here as shown in the links provided

Mr_Truth · May 26, 2019

randlepatrickmcmurphy said: ↑

Snopes has already debunked this:

www.snopes.com/fact-check/somali-teens-hammers/

When, oh when, will you cons stop wasting your time at conspiracy sites like Townhall, Redstate, Infowars and Federalistpapers? It doesn't take much effort to gather all the facts before spreading misinformation around. You just end up looking like fools when you jump on anything that sounds right to you and supports your ideology. Or maybe the hate keeps you warm?
Click to expand...

There is a certain irony to the sudden right wing love for Alex Jones' Infowars. It will be recalled how the right wingers HATED Jones during the Bush regime when he accused Bush of complicity in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Not only did he say complicity but often implied that Bush orchestrated the entire attack. Remember all the "tin hat" conspiracy claims they made.

Today, those right wingers now love him because he is such an ardent supporter of bigoted Trump. Gee, I wonder why ...

yasureoktoo · May 26, 2019

mdrobster said: ↑

Tell you what, why don't we start counting how many and how often Trump supporters get suckered for fake news, and juxtapose them with non Trump supporters getting suckered for fake news
Click to expand...

Yes, why don't we.
How do you know someone who is suckered into fake news is a Trump supporter.
I'm a Trump supporter and I didn't fall for it.

BaghdadBob · May 26, 2019

yasureoktoo said: ↑

I was going to make a post on lemon merengue pie
Wonder how the Trump supporters will try to spin it.
Click to expand...

Merengue is whipped, not spun.

BaghdadBob · May 26, 2019

Mr_Truth said: ↑

There is a certain irony to the sudden right wing love for Alex Jones' Infowars. It will be recalled how the right wingers HATED Jones during the Bush regime when he accused Bush of complicity in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Not only did he say complicity but often implied that Bush orchestrated the entire attack. Remember all the "tin hat" conspiracy claims they made.

Today, those right wingers now love him because he is such an ardent supporter of bigoted Trump. Gee, I wonder why ...
Click to expand...

With such an in depth analysis it's now very clear who actually listens to Infowars. It's obvious smoebody on the left is listening.

yasureoktoo · May 26, 2019

BaghdadBob said: ↑

Merengue is whipped, not spun.
Click to expand...

But a Trump supporter might spin it.

Mr_Truth · May 26, 2019

BaghdadBob said: ↑

With such an in depth analysis it's now very clear who actually listens to Infowars. It's obvious smoebody on the left is listening.
Click to expand...

LOL. More significantly, it is the right wing that loves him (for now).

Andrew Jackson · May 26, 2019

RP12 said: ↑

Group of teens... Two armed with pipes.. what is the issue?

You do know those sites you hate were just reporting what was heard over police radio right?
So the claims of an attack with hammers causing injuries were not fabricated, but they were based on initial, unconfirmed reports taken from online police scanners. Such preliminary details are undoubtedly of interest, but they should never be assumed to be accurate. In the case of the 17 May East Bank incident, those initial reports did indeed turn out to be inaccurate, as evidenced by the report filed by the arresting officers.

Not... Fabricated.. From your precious Snopes you can go back to your ranting now.
Click to expand...

Event: 2 kids carrying pipes

RW Take: "8-10 Crazed Somalis" Attacking people with "Hammers".

RW Reaction: Spam Ludicrous FAKE BS all over the internet

Fallout: When told story is a FAKE, the RW says "who cares"?

^Welcome to Trump's America.:smh:

mdrobster · May 26, 2019

yasureoktoo said: ↑

Yes, why don't we.
How do you know someone who is suckered into fake news is a Trump supporter.
I'm a Trump supporter and I didn't fall for it.
Click to expand...

this thread is just one of them. those same trump supporters were anti obama and the bs that arose from them has still not been counted.

yasureoktoo · May 26, 2019

mdrobster said: ↑

this thread is just one of them. those same trump supporters were anti obama and the bs that arose from them has still not been counted.
Click to expand...

People don't have to support Trump to be full of BS.

Log in or Sign up

8-10 Somali Teens Armed With Hammers Attack Bystanders At Rail Station In MN; Media Oddly Quiet

randlepatrickmcmurphy Well-Known Member

mudman Well-Known Member

RP12 Well-Known Member

mdrobster Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Jestsayin Well-Known Member Past Donor

Par10 Well-Known Member

Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

US Conservative Well-Known Member Past Donor

truth and justice Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

yasureoktoo Banned

mdrobster Well-Known Member

Mr_Truth Well-Known Member

Mr_Truth Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

BaghdadBob Well-Known Member

BaghdadBob Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Mr_Truth Well-Known Member

Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

mdrobster Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

8-10 Somali Teens Armed With Hammers Attack Bystanders At Rail Station In MN; Media Oddly Quiet

randlepatrickmcmurphy Well-Known Member

mudman Well-Known Member

RP12 Well-Known Member

mdrobster Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Jestsayin Well-Known Member Past Donor

Par10 Well-Known Member

Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

US Conservative Well-Known Member Past Donor

truth and justice Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

yasureoktoo Banned

mdrobster Well-Known Member

Mr_Truth Well-Known Member

Mr_Truth Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

BaghdadBob Well-Known Member

BaghdadBob Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Mr_Truth Well-Known Member

Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

mdrobster Well-Known Member

yasureoktoo Banned

Share This Page

Useful Searches