The leader of a white militia group charged with bombing a Bloomington mosque tried to escape earlier this year as he was being transported from Illinois to Minnesota, according to court filings.
Court filing: Bloomington mosque bombing suspect tried to escape from custody
Michael Hari made escape attempt while in transit from Illinois to Minnesota
June 21, 2019 at 12:51AM
![Police and federal authorities are investigating an early morning explosion Saturday at the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington. No injuries were reported. One worshiper reportedly saw a pickup truck speed off.Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in Bloomington, MN. Here, glass is blown out of a window where a bomb was apparently thrown into Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center.] DAVID JOLES ï david.joles@startribune.com Police and federal authorities are investigating an early morning explosion Saturda](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/WSLB64KD63SHIE6KF6OWT6IGDQ.jpg?&w=712)
The report filed with the U.S. Attorney's Office gives no description of how Michael Hari, 48, tried to escape when he was being brought to the Sherburne County jail in February.
Hari was later taken to the Anoka County jail, where he was placed in administrative segregation after he tried to disable a security device in his cell, according to the filing.
Hari, of Clarence, Ill., is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 30 on numerous charges in the bombing of a Bloomington mosque in August 2017.
Prosecutors accuse him of being the leader of the group White Rabbits 3 Percent Illinois Patriot Freedom Fighters Militia, which terrorized people in three states. The group is also accused of robbing Illinois Walmart stores, attempting to bomb a central Illinois women's health clinic and extorting the Canadian National Railway.
Two others, Michael McWhorter and Joseph Morris, have pleaded guilty for their roles in the bombing and crime spree. They face 35 years to life in prison.
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