(NECN: Amy Sinclair) - Somali leaders in Maine are speaking out in response to a Twitter post claiming one of the hostage takers in the Nairobi mall attack is from Maine.
The tweet, which was posted by Al-Shabab, the Islamic extremist group claiming responsibility for the attack, said one of the terrorists was a 22-year-old Mainer.
So far, this connection has not been substantiated anywhere else.
But Somalis are concerned the claim casts their community in a negative light, especially because terrorism experts have made the rounds on the talk shows recently claiming Portland is one of several American cities, including San Diego, Seattle, and Minneapolis, where Al-Shabab recruits and raises funds.
Outside the Islamic Society of Portland, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree stood with a dozen Somali leaders to refute these alleged ties.
"They're our friends, colleagues and neighbors," said Pingree. "It would be wrong to discriminate or to not treat them with the utmost respect."
They say while Somali Mainers do return to Somali at times, it's not to participate in terrorist activities.
"So far we do not know anyone from Maine or Portland who is involved in this, said Abdullahi Ahmed, a teacher at Deering High School.
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The group, which included Somali business leaders, Imams, teachers and parents, said the idea that their kids were being recruited by terrorists was laughable.
"They are texting, playing basketball, thinking about where they're going dancing Saturday night." says Osman Hersi, a Portland businessman. "These words of Shebab and Kenya, are to them, something that's happening very far away."
So far neither the State Department nor the FBI has confirmed that any Americans were involved in the Nairobi attack. Only Kenya's Foreign Minister has said two or three Americans were involved, with two from Minnesota and one from "someplace else."
Portland's Mayor says he is convinced that the other place is not Portland.
"We know of no recruitment effort," said Mayor Michael Brennan. "We haven't been notified by any law enforcement of problems. It's all fine and good to speculate but we have no evidence."
The Somalis ask the public to remember they came to Maine to escape terror. They say the last thing they would want to do is contribute to it now.
