EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Heavily redacted police files obtained by Michigan News Source shed little new light on the security scares that rattled St. Thomas Aquinas Church and School during the first week of January – including the social media video that ended with the phrase “Allahu Akbar.”

As previously reported, St. Thomas closed its campus “out of an abundance of caution” after three separate security incidents in one week, prompting concern among parents and parishioners.

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Notably, the “Allahu Akbar” case is still listed as “active” with the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD), despite the FBI formally closing its involvement. According to the report, the FBI told ELPD that while the situation appeared suspicious, it found no evidence of criminal activity and therefore ended its role in the investigation. However, that conclusion is difficult to independently verify, as heavily redacted documents obscure key details and leave significant questions unanswered.

The video that sparked alarm.

According to the police report concerning the incident, the investigation began after a tip was sent to the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office about a 44-second video circulating online. The footage, filmed from inside a vehicle, showed the exterior of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, including its nativity scene, stitched together with unrelated clips and ending with the phrase “Allahu Akbar.” The suspect was reported as smoking and had a “thousand-yard stare” according to the officer’s statement in the report.

Law enforcement – including the ELPD and the FBI – responded quickly when they became aware of the event. Although the video never mentioned the school directly, it was recorded around 3:00 p.m., near a student dismissal time, heightening concern. Extra patrols were assigned, and school and church officials were notified.

The church did not have any exterior cameras outside of the church at the time – something that has since been rectified according to a spokesman from the Diocese of Lansing.

Sparse details, heavy redactions.

The released files omit the social media platform involved and withholds names. Officers noted the vehicle involved was a black Nissan with an elephant air freshener hanging from blue and yellow cords. One report also references a “suspicious phone call” during the time of the three incidents asking whether St. Thomas and nearby St. John Church were open – something a staff member found odd.

Separate incident added confusion.

The other incidents included what authorities believe to be security problems that involved different individuals but those reports are heavily redacted as well. In the end, the records offer little clarity on the situations – and underscore how quickly fear can escalate when information is limited and transparency even more so.