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Posted: 1:53 PM- Salt Lake City officials met with Bosnian immigrants Thursday to assure them they are a valued part of the community and decried the "hateful" e-mails and phone calls from angry citizens who link the shootings to the Muslim faith.

Mayor Rocky Anderson said there is no evidence that religion or political views sparked the attack.

Speaking at Bosna Restaurant in South Salt Lake, the mayor encouraged everyone to reach out a helping hand and learn more about their neighbors.

"This is a time when we can learn more about the challenges facing these families, especially refugee families," Anderson said.

A few dozen Bosnians and a larger number of journalists packed the small restaurant. Also present were Police Chief Chris Burbank and Bisera Turkovic, Bosnia's ambassador to the United States.

"People are shocked and people are saddened," said Turkovic. "We owe this country much. To do to people who helped us, it's really shocking."

Turkovic, who is based in Washington, D.C., expressed her condolences and thanked law enforcement officers for how they handled the situation.