Man jailed for ramming US mosque
A US man has been jailed for five years after ramming Ohio’s largest mosque with his car six days after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula yesterday sentenced Eric Richley, 29, of Cleveland, who pleaded guilty to burglary, ethnic intimidation and vandalism.
He admitted driving a car up three steps and through two sets of doors of the Islamic Centre of Cleveland. He smashed through a 3ft wall, knocked over three pillars and landed on a fountain.
Prosecutors said Richley told police he was upset about the attacks and that his brother was in the military.
Richley was in court in a wheelchair because of injuries suffered in the crash. He broke bones in his back and both feet.
He has denied the ramming was a case of ethnic or religious bigotry. He said he had been drinking at the time.
‘‘I never meant to hurt them or anybody except myself,’’ he told the judge.
