According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, tensions flared in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a small group of protesters staged an anti-Muslim demonstration outside City Hall, during which an attempt was made to burn a copy of the Quran. The incident unfolded against the backdrop of heightened unrest in the city linked to recent immigration enforcement actions and ongoing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
One of the individuals involved was Jake Lang, a controversial figure known for his participation in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Lang was later pardoned by President Donald Trump. He appeared alongside a handful of supporters with the stated intention of publicly setting fire to the Islamic holy book, an act widely regarded as deeply offensive by Muslims.
Minneapolis has been experiencing increased tensions in recent days following ICE operations in the area and demonstrations triggered by the fatal shooting of an American woman during an enforcement action by federal agents. These events have contributed to a charged atmosphere, making the protest particularly volatile.
Ahead of the demonstration, Lang openly publicised his plans on the social media platform X. In his post, he said the action was meant to protest what he described as a “Somali occupation” of the city, while also calling for the deportation of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and the arrest of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The remarks drew immediate criticism for their inflammatory and discriminatory tone.
The protest quickly descended into disorder when counter-demonstrators, many of whom had already gathered to protest ICE activities, confronted Lang and his supporters. Witnesses reported heated verbal exchanges that soon escalated into physical confrontations. Anti-ICE protesters were seen demanding that Lang leave Minneapolis, accusing him of deliberately provoking division in an already tense environment.
Footage shared widely on social media showed Lang being pushed and surrounded by members of the crowd. Amid the chaos, he was forced to retreat and eventually fled the area in a vehicle, bringing the attempted Quran burning to an abrupt end.
US media outlets described the incident as a calculated provocation, noting that it occurred in a city still reeling from the January 7 killing of a US citizen during an ICE operation. Analysts warned that such acts risk inflaming religious and ethnic tensions and could further destabilise communities already strained by political and social unrest.
Lang has previously been involved in similar controversies. In November 2025, he attempted to burn a copy of the Quran in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States. That incident was met with widespread condemnation from religious leaders, civil rights groups and public officials, who described it as an act of hate rather than free expression.
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