FOX31 Denver

Denver PD: Armed man arrested after making anti-Muslim comments, fleeing from mosque

DENVER — The Denver Police Department says an armed man was arrested after fleeing from a mosque in the Whittier neighborhood Thursday.

Police say no injuries were reported.

DPD says officers responded to East 30th Avenue and North Downing Street on a report of an armed man at Masjid Al-Shuhada, the Downtown Denver Islamic Center.

The man was armed with what appeared to be a rifle and was making threats toward people outside the mosque.

Police say the man was making anti-Muslim comments.

People went inside the mosque and locked the doors.

Police say the man fled the scene. Officers arrested him nearby.

Witnesses describe the suspect as a man in his 20s. The witnesses reported the man may have been under the influence of drugs.

Video shows the man waving a weapon and yelling outside the mosque:

DPD says it is increasing patrols around Denver mosques as a precaution.

Police have not yet recovered the suspect’s weapon.