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AP FACT CHECK: Trump wrong on Muslims reporting crime

WASHINGTON – A claim from the second presidential debate and how it stacks up with the facts:

DONALD TRUMP: “We have to be sure that Muslims come in and report when they see something going on. When they see hatred going on, they have to report it. As an example, in San Bernardino, many people saw the bombs all over the apartment of the two people that killed 14 and wounded many, many people. Horribly wounded. They’ll never be the same. Muslims have to report the problems when they see them.”

THE FACTS: There’s no evidence that Muslims failed to report suspicious activity.

The FBI works closely with the Muslim community and encourages people to report anything they see that might be criminal activity.

In San Bernardino, California, a Muslim couple shot and killed 14 people at an office party in December 2015. The couple was killed in a police shootout. But the FBI has never suggested that people from the Muslim community — or any community — failed to alert authorities that there were many bombs in the couple’s home. Law enforcement later found bomb-making materials in the couple’s garage. The FBI has said that the shooters were inspired by the Islamic State group.

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Contributed by Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan and Eric Tucker.

EDITOR’S NOTE _ A look at the veracity of claims by political figures

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