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Police: Former Scottsdale mosque employee attempted robbery from donation box

Posted at 2:59 PM, Sep 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-29 20:01:00-04

Paperwork reveals a former mosque employee attempted to steal money from a donation box after being terminated.

On August 21, Abdulrahman El Turk was terminated from his employment with the Islamic Center of the Northeast Valley. The next day, on August 22, he attempted to rob his former employer. 

According to Scottsdale police, the 28-year-old was found around midnight by another employee trying to break into the donation box.

The current employee confronted Turk, a fight began, and Turk pulled out a pocket knife.

The victim suffered a small cut from the knife before Turk fled the scene, leaving the knife behind.

Police arrested Turk at his Gilbert home near Val Vista Drive and Elliot Road only a few hours after the attempted theft.

He reportedly told police that he was still employed there and was there for cleaning purposes. 

Turk has been charged with burglary and disorderly conduct.