Man drank “45 beers” before setting fire to Islamic Center - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Man drank “45 beers” before setting fire to Islamic Center

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An Indiana man has pleaded guilty to setting fire to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo in Perrysburg.

Former marine Randolph Linn told the court Wednesday he did it because he was upset about images he'd seen on television of Muslims killing Americans.

Linn also told the court he consumed 45 beers in a 6 to 7-hour period before driving from St. Joe, Indiana to Perrysburg. 

He was armed with a handgun and went room to room before setting the fire in a prayer room. 

No one was inside the center, and no one was hurt.

Islamic Center leaders say such acts cannot be tolerated. 

"It's a loud and clear message to our society that we will not tolerate people who have that much hate and who would attack a place of worship," says Dr. Mahjabeen Islam. "Because it's not a mosque, it's not Islam, it's a place of worship, and it's scared."

Linn said he picked the Islamic Center because he'd driven by it many times along his route as a truck driver. 

He faces up to 20 years in prison.

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