Fire at Houston mosque was intentionally set: Fire department
Investigators in Houston, Texas have determined that a fire at a mosque that broke out Friday was intentionally set, amid a recent surge in Islamophobia in the United States.
The Houston Fire Department said Saturday that the fire that broke out at the Islamic Society of Greater Houston is classified as "incendiary", which means that accidental or natural causes have been ruled out.
The fire was reported at around 2:45 pm local time on Christmas and caused "significant" damage, the Houston Fire Department said.
No one was hurt, but there were about 200 people inside the mosque about an hour before the fire began.
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had earlier said the fire appeared suspicious because it had multiple points of origin.
The Houston Police Department and the FBI are also investigating the fire.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on authorities to investigate a possible hate crime in the case, citing what it called a "recent spike in hate incidents targeting mosques nationwide.”
A mosque in Coachella, California, was damaged in an intentionally set fire on December 11. Vandalized mosques have also been reported in Arizona and Georgia.
Hate crimes against US Muslim communities have increased sharply in the aftermath of the mass shootings in Paris and California.
According to a report released by a research body in the California State University, crimes such as assaults on hijab-wearing students, arson attacks and vandalism at mosques and shootings and death threats at businesses with Muslim owners have tripled.
Israeli-US estate tycoon brothers charged with decade-long sex trafficking
US, Canadian universities hire Israeli firms to curb pro-Palestinian protests, report says
US nuclear spending cause for concern
Mother’s Day: Sareh Javanmardi’s inspiring journey as Paralympic champion and mother
Russia downs over 40 Ukrainian drones as Putin vows 'destruction' on Kiev
VIDEO | Yemen: A bone in Israeli neck
D-8’s role in Iran’s economy after Cairo summit
China slams US as ‘war-addicted’ threat to global security
China ‘firmly opposes’ US military aid to Taiwan
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
President Yoon Suk Yeol to be removed from office
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
