Pastor Terry Jones was arrested on Wednesday afternoon while he was on his way to burn at least 3,000 copies of the Koran, or Qur’an, the Islamic holy book, it was reported.
Jones was taken into custody in Florida’s Polk County, reported 10 News.
He planned on burning the books at county-owned Loyce E. Harpe Park in Mulberry, but he was denied a permit.
Officials said that he filed the permit request too late.
Jones said earlier that not having a permit will not stop him from burning Koran copies.
“That guy is a jerk. He should not come here for his demonstration,” said Rick O'Sani, a neighbor, told 10 News.
Jones, 62, is the pastor of Dove World Outreach Center. He drew headlines in 2010 for plans to burn copies of the Koran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“We are going to check with our lawyers and find out what our legal options are,” he said on Tuesday afternoon, according to The Ledger. “But that’s a public park and I don’t know how they could ask us to leave until we’ve done something wrong.”
Earlier this week, police told local media that Jones would be arrested for trespassing if he attempted to carry out his intended plans at the park.
