A former police official has come out to attest that Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was right when he commented that some Muslims in New Jersey held rooftop and street parties to celebrate the 9/11 terror attacks.
Retired Jersey City police Capt. Peter Gallagher said some Muslims in the city did celebrate the devastating terrorist attacks launched by al-Qaeda, the New York Post reported on Monday.
He said his men responded to the scene after receiving numerous 911 calls from outraged residents.
Gallagher said there were at least two celebrations and possibly more, with men shouting "Allahu Akbar" and women ululating and chanting in Arabic.
"Some men were dancing, some held kids on their shoulders," he said.
"The women were shouting in Arabic and keening in the high-pitched wail of Arabic fashion. They were told to go back to their apartments since a crowd of non-Muslims was gathering on the sidewalk below and we feared for their safety."
Trump whipped up a storm and drew heavy flak when he said that "thousands and thousands" of Muslims celebrated the attacks on the Twin Towers. State and federal officials roundly denounced his comment, saying it was false and that no such incident occurred.
But the statements made by Gallagher and other witnesses appeared to have vindicated Trump.
One witness said he saw a celebration on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, a main thoroughfare in the city, an article on NJ.com said.
"When I saw they were happy, I was pissed," said Ron Knight, 56, who also heard cheers of "Allahu Akbar" from a crowd of about 20 people that morning.
Residents also placed numerous 911 calls complaining about Muslims partying on a rooftop, police officers told the website.
Carlos Ferran, 60, said he was on his way to buy some beer when he saw the gathering on the sidewalk.
"Some of them had their hands in the air," Ferran said. "They were happy."
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, one of the many politicians who criticised Trump for his remarks, still denied that celebrations took place despite the eyewitness accounts.
"There are no records of this, and over time, what has happened is that it has become urban legend in many cities where people say they heard or saw something," Fulop told the website.
