Woman accused of terrorizing says she's being targeted due to her race and religion

A day after our report that a Grand Forks woman was arrested for making a terroristic threat, she called Valley News Live claiming that she’s innocent.

In an exclusive interview that was more than 20 minutes long, Hawo Ahmed, 26, shared her side of the story in an incident that landed her in jail.

Ahmed was arrested for threatening to cut three people with a knife.

“I feel like I'm a Muslim woman who's being attacked because I am a Muslim woman living in Grand Forks,” Ahmed said.

Court documents detailed several serious allegations against Ahmed. She not only threatened the lives of three women in November of 2018, but threatened to slash their tires and smash their car windows.

Throughout our interview, Ahmed maintained her innocence. She also took issue with critical comments she’s been receiving on Facebook.

“I turned myself in because I know I didn't commit the crime. I'm innocent and I know I can prove it,” Ahmed said.

According to the Grand Forks Police Department, one of the victims feared for her life because Ahmed is known to climb onto balconies at her apartment complex.

“I don't climb balconies. I am not a terrorist. And I'm not a threat to this country. I love this country,” Ahmed said.

Despite her claim that she’s being targeted because of her race and religion, we obtained court documents showing a lengthy criminal history.

Her crimes are traced to Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota. They include third degree assault and giving a false name to a peace officer.

In 2011, Ahmed was accused of tampering with a witness in a major federal human trafficking case out of Minneapolis.

Ahmed said she was acquitted in that case.

“I've already been convicted in public. They already see me as the guilty Muslim terrorist that needs to be sent back to her country, that doesn't belong here,” Ahmed said.

She’s said she’s hired an attorney to fight her current case. She’s out on bond until her case goes to trial.

Terrorizing is a class c felony and it carries a maximum five year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.