Mosque 'emergency drill' has Muslims crying foul

IRVING -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations is crying foul over an emergency preparedness drill targeting a simulated mosque in the central Illinois commuity of Irving.

Ahmed Rehab of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says the exercise wrongly typecast Islamic houses of worship as security threats. Rehab says he has no reason to believe the exercise was meant to be malicious, but it still perpetuates a stereotype linking all Muslims to terrorism.

The drill involved simulated explosions, hostages and nerve gas.

Emergency Services and Disaster Agency director Diana Holmes says she had not heard of Rehab's complaint. She says the scenario for the exercise came from the sheriff's office.

Montgomery County Undersheriff Rick Robbins says the sheriff's office is planning a statement on the complaint later this week.

Irving is roughly 50 miles south of Springfield.