COACHELLA, Calif., Dec. 12 (UPI) — Federal investigators detained a “person of interest” in the suspected hate-crime arson at a Southern California mosque Friday.
The suspect, who has not been identified, is being questioned after an explosion at the Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley. The Riverside Sheriff’s Office said the fire was an “intentional act potentially resulting in a hate crime.” No one was injured. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting in the investigation.
“A person of interest was quickly identified and was subsequently located and detained pending further investigation,” the sheriff’s office said.
ATF & partners begin fire cause & origin investigation at Islamic Society of Palm Springs in Coachella. pic.twitter.com/nJswwwyG6L— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) December 12, 2015
Imam Reymundo Nour said witnesses reported a loud noise and fire. The fire started about 15 minutes before an afternoon prayer service.
“The report that I got was someone threw some type of device at the building and firebombed the place,” he said. “I got a report from people who were inside the mosque saying that they heard a loud boom and that the front area of the mosque erupted in fire, so they quickly called the fire department.”
The incident happened about a week after the mass shooting carried out by Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik in San Bernardino, about 75 miles from Coachella, that left 14 dead and 21 injured.
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