St. Cloud police investigate anti-Muslim cartoons

Police in the central Minnesota city of St. Cloud are investigating anti-Islamic cartoons found on at least two utility poles.

The St. Cloud Times reports the posters included hand-drawn and digitally-altered photos derogatory toward Muslims. It says they included depictions of the Prophet Mohammed and a swastika, among other images.

Five of them were found posted Tuesday on a pole outside a store that caters to Somalis.

Mohamoud Mohamed, executive director of the St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization, says it appears the images were downloaded from the Internet. Some were written in multiple languages.

Political Coverage Powered by You

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Police Sgt. Marty Sayre says that if the city attorney's office determines a crime was committed, the incident could be investigated as a hate crime.

---

Information from: St. Cloud Times, http://www.sctimes.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)