PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Northeast Philadelphia mosque was significantly damaged in a fire early Sunday morning.
CAIR-Philadelphia, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the apparent arson attack happened at Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center along Tyson Avenue, right off Castor Avenue, around 2 a.m.
Video shared by CAIR-Philadelphia showed a man walking up to the building, lighting a bag, and throwing it inside. He then walked away.
"Our mosque is more than a place of worship. It is a welcoming community center that has served families, neighbors, and people of all backgrounds for many years," said Masukul Islam Khan, president of Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center. "Any act of violence or hatred directed at a house of worship is an attack on the values of safety, religious freedom, and unity that our city cherishes."
No one was inside the mosque at the time, and no injuries were reported. Philadelphia police said they are investigating the incident.
CAIR-Philadelphia is offering a $2,500 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction. A GoFundMe was started to help fix the damage.
"An attack on any house of worship is an attack on the constitutional promise of religious freedom that belongs to every American. It’s additionally saddening that this attack came just as the nation commemorated the 250th year of its founding,” said Ahmet Tekelioglu, Executive Director of CAIR-Philadelphia.
Tekelioglu said they are urging law enforcement to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including finding out if it was “motivated by anti-Muslim bias.”
“Every community deserves to gather in prayer without fear of intimidation or violence,” Tekelioglu said. “We stand in full solidarity with the leadership and congregants of Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center and remain committed to supporting them as they recover from this disturbing incident."
