The Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned two terrorist incidents that made news yesterday: a Christian militia group’s alleged plot to kill police officers in the Midwest, and the suicide bombings in the Moscow subway, which Russian officials suspect were carried out by Muslim women.

MPAC’s news release focused on terrorism as a product of hate, rather than religion.

“Today’s incidents deliver a powerful message about the power of hate to wreak devastation,” said Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati.

U.S. Muslim leaders have been criticized in the past for not speaking out quickly and decisively against terror plots and activities, so this statement stood out for me, both for its rapid timing and the way it linked the two seemingly unrelated incidents in a subtle attempt at deflecting any anti-Muslim response.