Rev. Terry Jones, who captured worldwide attention after saying he would burn copies of the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, said he had hired off-duty police to provide security for crowds that failed to materialize Sunday at a rented Tampa Convention ballroom.

“We are in a pitiful condition in our country,” Jones said. “This proves that. I don’t know if they’re scared off by the police or scared off by me.”

Only about 10 people showed up to the 500 seat ballroom.  Jones is best known for threatening to hold “International Burn a Qur’an Day” last month, which drew heavy criticism from many, including the Vatican.

Jones’ ability to attract attention has waned, the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times reported Monday, once the hate pastor announced the Qur’an burning is “one hundred” percent off.

Last month, Jones backed down on his Qur’an-torching plan, which President Barack Obama publicly criticized without uttering the reverend’s name.

“With respect to the individual down in Florida,” Obama said, referring to Jones, “the idea that we would burn the sacred texts of somebody else’s religion is contrary to what this country stands for.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates took the extraordinary step of phoning Jones personally, appealing to him not to put US soldiers in danger by staging “International Burn a Qur’an Day.”

Obama denied that he elevated the obscure preacher by having Gates call the preacher personally to stop the book burning. He said the call was made to protect US forces overseas, adding that “it was the best imaginable recruiting tool for Al-Qaeda.”

Claiming he had received a “sign from God,” Jones said he wouldn’t be burning any holy books after all.