Long Island police are trying to figure out whether a house of worship was the target of hate after someone threw a container that exploded outside a mosque.
The symbol of Islam now bears what believers at the Rangkhamkoma mosque see as a sign of hatred: burn marks – the result of an incident outside the place of worship on the Fourth of July before dawn.
As flames erupted around the crescent sign, the Imam of Masjid Fatima Al-Zahra, Ahmed Ibrahim, completed the prayers inside.
Surveillance video shows the seconds leading up to the incident.The Suffolk District Attorney said the fireball was caused by someone using a container with an accelerator.
“He came out of nowhere and did it. Nothing was achieved, but he expressed hatred. Why?” Ibrahim said.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether it was a hate crime, but the district attorney’s office said it did look like one.
“There is no good American who can see this and defend it,” said Rep. Phil Ramos (D-NY) of New York.
This mosque has been in Ronkonkoma for three years.It is the spiritual home of about 500 families.It had never faced any threats until July 4 of this year.
“It’s very disappointing that someone chose to create hatred on such a beautiful morning of celebration,” said Hassan Ahmed, a member of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Anti-Bias Committee.
The mosque itself was not damaged and no one was injured, but now the imam says he must reconsider his normal habit of reading the Quran in a rocking chair.
“I doubt if I should do it again,” he said.”Someone could target me from a distance. Incredible.”
As part of the investigation, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said the FBI is investigating the equipment used to burn the sign.Meanwhile, mosque leaders are inviting the community to come to the mosque on Saturday to condemn hate in their Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
Post time: Jul-07-2022