Obama: Quran burning destructiveSTORY HIGHLIGHTS- NEW: FBI visits Dove Center on Thursday
- Interpol issues a global alert warning of a "strong likelihood" of violent attacks
- Muslim civil liberties group launches its "Learn, Don't Burn" initiative
- Obama says Quran burning is "contrary to our values as Americans"
(CNN) -- A plan by a small Florida church to burn Qurans on September 11, which has triggered worldwide controversy, is a "recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda," President Obama said Thursday.
"You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan" as a result of the proposal by the Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center, Obama said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "This could increase the recruitment of individuals who'd be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities."
The Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove Center, has said he will proceed with the plan Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, despite increased pressure to abandon the proposal and warnings that going ahead could endanger U.S. troops and Americans worldwide.
Interpol on Thursday issued a global alert to its 188 member countries, warning of a "strong likelihood" of violent attacks if the Quran burning proceeds. And the FBI warned local law enforcement that the plan, along with other recent controversies involving the American Muslim community, could lead to hate crimes and encourage extremist rhetoric, although a federal law enforcement official said there was no credible information that attacks were planned.
The FBI visited Jones at the Dove Center on Thursday, according to Jeffrey Westcott, special agent in charge of the Jacksonville, Florida, bureau. The FBI also visited him a few weeks ago, he said, but would not say what was discussed.
On Wednesday, the Vatican joined a chorus of groups imploring the church not to burn Islam's holy book, saying it would be an "outrageous and grave gesture." The president of the United Nations General Assembly, Ali Abdussalam Treki, also expressed concern, saying it will "lead to uncontrollable reactions" and spark tension worldwide.
Video: Pastor: Burning will happen 
Video: Gauging reaction to Quran burning 
Video: No permit to burn Qurans? 
Video: Call for tolerance RELATED TOPICS - Terry Jones
- Islam
- First Amendment Rights
Earlier this week, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, warned that the plan "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.
Jones has rejected the pleas, saying his message targets radical Islamists.
"The general needs to point his finger to radical Islam and tell them to shut up, tell them to stop, tell them that we will not bow our knees to them," Jones said on CNN's "AC360."
"We are burning the book," Jones said. "We are not killing someone. We are not murdering people."
Referring to Jones, Obama said Thursday, "If he's listening, I just hope he understands that what he's proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans, that this country has been built on the notions of religious freedom and religious tolerance."
"And as a very practical matter, as commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States, I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women in uniform who are in Iraq, who are in Afghanistan. We're already seeing protests against Americans just by the mere threat ... this is a destructive act that he's engaging in."
Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced an initiative called "Learn, Don't Burn" on Thursday and will distribute Qurans to replace the burned copies.
"We would like to inform the public about this book," said Nihad Awad, executive director of CAIR. "We would like to turn this challenge into an opportunity of learning. ... If they learn, they will understand. If they understand, they will respect. When they respect, they will not offend others."
He said he thought the media has paid too much attention to Jones and his "insignificant act. ... That's what he wants," Awad said. "... I'm really concerned about the priorities, sometimes, of our coverage."
Awad said he is attempting to spread the word that Jones' actions do not represent Christianity or America. "Almost everyone in America, except that particular church, has condemned his act."
Nevertheless, he said, the group is concerned that the plan may lead to hate crimes against Muslims. Cross burnings by the Ku Klux Klan were an indication of hate crimes to follow against African-Americans, he said, and Nazis started with burning books and "ended up burning people."
"We understand that there is ignorance, there is hostility, and unfortunately, this is going to be exploited by some people," Awad said.
CAIR has been working with attorneys, and no basis has been found to stop the burnings under the law, he said, but he added that if the plan is going to incite violence, the government should step in.
CAIR, a Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group, has written to Gen. James Mattis, head of the U.S. Central Command, asking for help in trying to dissuade Jones.
"The Quran burning event, while protected by the First Amendment, is not in our nation's best interests," Awad wrote in the letter. "Those who seek to harm our nation will exploit the burnings to promote their own political agenda."
Members of CAIR are traveling to Gainesville, Awad said. The group is also printing 900,000 copies of a pamphlet for Muslims on how to combat Islamophobia. Qurans will also be distributed free of charge -- an effort to educate, not proselytize, he said.
Imam Mahdi Bray, head of the Muslim-American Society, told reporters that he has just returned from Gainesville and that city officials have assured him Jones does not have a fire permit and will not receive one.
"I can assure you that on September 11, you will not see a bonfire of Qurans being burned at the Dove Church," Bray said. City officials have told him that any sort of incendiary material will violate the city code, and a fire truck will be nearby to douse any flames.
Bray said the city of Gainesville "has not given any type of support to Rev. Terry Jones." He said Jones' property is in foreclosure, the insurance has been canceled and "hateful" signs posted by the organization have been painted over by the city.
"This city is a city that wants to bring people together," he said, although Jones will "get his 15 minutes of fame as a bigot. There's no doubt about that."
Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe said Jones' requests for burn permits have been denied, and city officials hope that he will comply. If he breaks the law, action can be taken against Jones, with the response based on whatever the infraction might be, he said.
The Gainesville Students for a Democratic Society said Thursday it will bus in students from as far away as Chicago, Illinois, and will have about 600 on hand Saturday to protest at a nearby park, then march to the church to picket the event.
"I think Terry Jones has already gotten enough attention," group spokesman Dave Schneider said. "... I think the only way to respond to that is putting Gainesville and putting the American people out there, demonstrating to the world, on the front lines, that we don't tolerate this. We don't accept this. This isn't who we are."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is one of the few public officials who defended Jones' right to go ahead, even as he condemned the idea as "distasteful."
"I don't think he would like if somebody burned a book that in his religion he thinks is holy. ... But the First Amendment protects everybody, and you can't say that we are going to apply the First Amendment to only those cases where we are in agreement," Bloomberg said, citing the section of the Constitution that promises freedom of speech.
Right Wing Extreme, an armed Christian organization that last month withdrew its support for the event, saying it "does not glorify God," said Thursday that while it does not agree with holding the event, the Dove Center has a right to do so.
"It seems to us (the administration) is trying to find a legal way to stop this," the group's founder, Shannon Carson, told CNN. If that happens, he said, "Right Wing Extreme will be there, and we will defend their rights."
Carson said he is among those asking Jones not to hold the event. But "Terry Jones is not breaking any laws, and just because you don't agree doesn't mean you have a right to stop the event," the group said in a statement. "... The Obama administration needs to stay out of this. Our flag and Bibles are burned every day in this country. Dove has the right to burn their book, too."
The planned Quran burning has drawn sharp criticism worldwide.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting U.S. troops from religious intolerance, has promised to buy one new Quran and donate it to the Afghan National Army for each one burned in Florida.
Asked his feelings about the matter as president, Obama said, "well, it is frustrating. Now, on the other hand, we are a government of laws. And so we have to abide by those laws. And my understanding is that he can be cited for public burning, but that's the extent of the laws that we have available to us."
"You know, part of this country's history is people doing destructive or offensive or harmful things," the president said. "And yet, we still have to make sure that we're following the laws. And that's part of what I love about this country."
A Christian congregation in Germany on Thursday distanced itself from Jones, its founder and former pastor. Stephan Baar, one of the leaders of the Christian Community of Cologne, said the congregation split with Jones in 2008 over differences in the way the church was run.
"We distance ourselves very, very clearly from the actions that are taking place (in Florida) and also from the person himself, and unfortunately, we really regret what is happening there," Baar said in an interview with CNN affiliate RTL.
CNN's Paul Courson, Carol Cratty, Marylynn Ryan and Rich Phillips contributed to this report.