The neck-sawing gesture made by a man accused of threatening a Phoenix Islamic center Saturday initially confused a leader at the mosque, who told investigators he was not threatened at the time, according to Maricopa County court records.

The statement was given to police by a mosque leader at the United Islamic Center of Arizona, near 35th Avenue and Union Hills Drive, who spoke with 40-year-old Noel Becht before police arrived, according to records.

Becht was arrested Saturday evening and booked on charges of threatening and intimidating, disorderly conduct and trespassing at the mosque.

Court records say Becht attended a prayer, then entered several restricted rooms, asked “weird questions” about service hours at the location and another mosque in Tempe, then began making a repeated sawing motion across his neck.

The arrest came the day after a mass-shooting at two mosques in New Zealand that left 50 people dead.

According to court documents, when Becht began motioning in a sawing manner “45 times across [his] neck,” the mosque leader asked what the motion meant.

Becht replied “nothing, I’ll tell you later,” according to documents.

The mosque leader said he did not feel threatened but instead was confused because the gesture suggested Becht “wanted to behead him,” documents said.

A statement released by the mosque on Monday in response to the incident said, “after the recent incident that occurred on Saturday night at UICA, we have seen the true strength and the unity that are present in our community and elsewhere. Muslims and non-Muslims alike came to show us their support and to work hand-in-hand with us to unroot hate, radicalism and supremacy in all forms.

“We also take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Phoenix Police Department and their other squad units, for the excellent support and dedication and for being present with us during this difficult time.”

Police have been closely monitoring mosques across the state ever since Friday’s New Zealand attacks.

In addition, vigils at mosques in Tempe and Scottsdale over the weekend drew large crowds of people from a variety of  faiths to show support and help spread the message of unity .

 

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