Suspicious fire burns US Islamic center in Texas
A massive fire has broken out at an Islamic center in southeast Houston, Texas ahead of Friday morning prayers, damaging and destroying most of the building.
According to officials, an accelerant was used in the fire that started around 5 a.m. However, the cause of the fire is still unknown.
The Quba Islamic Institute, which provides services for about 100 families, was closed when the fire started and that no one was injured.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for an investigation into whether the fire was the result of a possible hate crime as fire officials say the use of accelerant usually points to a purposeful act.
Ahsan Zahid, assistant Imam at the CAIR, said, "They (fire fighters) said their dog went through and he hit on some substances inside the place, and he said, 'From what I see right now at this point, I have to say it was an incendiary fire which means that it was started on purpose.' That's all we can go on at this point. I don't want to speculate."
The fire burnt a back building which was used for storing books, renovation supplies, and furniture.
"The damage on the back building is total," said Houston Fire Department district chief Ken Tyner. "The whole entire building back there is burned up."
Zahid also said that a vandalized, smashed table was found by fire fighters, noting that the night before the incident occurred someone had driven by shouting mocking chants.
In addition, Hala Saadeh, who uses the community center, says the very first thing that comes to mind is a “hate crime.”
The incident happened at the time that three young Muslim students, one male and two female, were shot dead in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Tuesday.
Mohammad Abu-Salha, the father of the two female students, told the crowd during their funereal on Thursday that they were victims of a hate crime.
AT/AGB
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