Burnett: Houston Islamic Center Fire Troubling ‘In Light of’ Chapel Hill Shooting

CNN’s Erin Burnett said that a fire at an Islamic Center in Houston is “a frightening and troubling incident, especially in light of the shooting in North Carolina this week”  on Friday’s “OutFront.”

“Fire destroying a building at an Islamic center in Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, a preliminary investigation has concluded that the fire was set intentionally. The Chronicle reports that a member of the mosque was told by arson investigators that an accelerant was found on the scene…it’s obviously a frightening and incredibly troubling incident, especially in light of the shooting in North Carolina this week.

The Houston Chronicle, whose report Burnett cited, said that Houston Fire officials “said they had not yet confirmed the cause of the fire and had no further information to release”

Ahsan Zahid, the Islamic center member quoted by the Chronicle, told the newspaper that “two working theories are being pursued. The fire was started on purpose to damage the building or it was started by a homeless person who broke in to the building because of the cold.”

A later report on the Chapel Hill shootings on “OutFront” pointed out that “police say, so far, their investigation has only shown the shooting was the result of an on-going dispute over parking”

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

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