Officials in Dearborn deliberately withheld information about Hussein Zorkot, arrested with a loaded AK-47 and camouflage paint—because they were afraid of “stirring anti-Muslim sentiments” and “fanning the flames of terrorism.”

This is bad craziness.

Hussein Zorkot is an open supporter of Hizballah. His web site has jihad music with sounds of explosions, pictures of Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and an image declaring the “start of my personal jihad,” dated September 8, 2007.

And the government of Dearborn hid this information from the public, at a time when the US was supposed to be on high alert for terrorist incidents, because they don’t trust the people who elected them. And because they’re afraid of stirring up more terrorism.

Really bad craziness.

On Tuesday, a nation honored those whose lives were lost during the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. But four days prior to the anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks, a Wayne State medical student had city officials hoping that the event would not be marred by more bloodshed.

Houssein Zorkot, 26, was arrested Sept. 8 after he was observed wielding an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle in Hemlock Park, a popular destination for many Dearborn residents.

Zorkot, who is of Lebanese descent, was arraigned Tuesday in 19th District Court — the same day city officials sent out a press release about an event that had happened four days prior, and one day after the Press & Guide had contacted city officials seeking comment.

According to Dearborn Mayor “Jack” O“Reilly, Jr., the release of information about the case was delayed until after Zarkot’s arraignment and late in the day that marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. City officials feared that announcing the arrest of an armed Arabic man so close to anniversary of the attack would stir anti-Muslim sentiments and fan the flames of terrorism.

”We didn’t want this to become more than it is,“ O’Reilly said. ”There are certain things that the media latches onto, and this would have turned into a story about terrorism. That’s not the kind of tone we want to set.“

Zorkot has not been identified as a terrorist and has yet to be associated with any terrorist group, O’Reilly said. He has been charged with multiple felonies for carrying a dangerous weapon.

UPDATE at 9/17/07 12:34:21 pm:

Also see:
Ace’s take.
Michelle Malkin: Dearbornistan government at work: Covering up for the AK-47 jihadi suspect.