In a remarkable display of courage and quick thinking, a 12-year-old girl’s older brother successfully apprehended a man of Somalian origin suspected of sexually assaulting his sister in Minneapolis. The incident unfolded after the brother discovered disturbing messages on his sister’s phone, prompting him to set a trap to catch the alleged perpetrator.

Qalinle Ibrahim Dirie, 41, who lives in Minneapolis, which is often referred to as “Little Mogadishu” due to its large Somali population, has been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the assault that occurred on June 5, 2024. If convicted, Dirie could face up to 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Dirie approached the girl while she was playing in her backyard, asking if her mother was home. After learning she was not, he left but returned shortly after, forcibly grabbing her, striking her head, and driving her to another location, where he proceeded to rape and assault her. The girl managed to escape and ran home.

The incident came to light when the girl confided in her school counselor, leading to a medical examination and a report to the police. The brother, upon discovering Dirie’s continued attempts to contact his sister via phone and messages, posed as his sister and arranged a meeting with Dirie, who agreed to come to their house.

When Dirie arrived, he was confronted by the brother and the girl’s stepfather and attempted to flee. However, the brother managed to block his escape until the police arrived. During his arrest, Dirie claimed that he believed the girl was 19 years old despite the clear evidence of her being a minor.

Dirie appeared in court on August 1, 2024, and remains jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail. His criminal history does not include other sexual assault or other serious convictions.

News Link: https://rairfoundation.com/little-mogadishu-minnesota-brother-12-year-old-girl/