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Indianapolis Star – July 9, 2005
FBI: Fire at Indianapolis mosque probed as hate crime
By Rob Schneider
A fire at a Bloomington mosque early Saturday is being investigated as a hate crime by the FBI and members of its Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The incident took place at the Islamic Center of Bloomington, where a ground-floor window was broken and an incendiary device was used to start a fire, an official of the mosque said.
FBI Agent Wendy Osborne confirmed that the FBI "received information on an attempted arson or some type of fire that occurred in Bloomington."
"The FBI did respond, and we are investigating and treating this incident as a hate crime, which we take very seriously," Osborne said.
Task force members are officers from local police departments. The force is used to assist the FBI in investigating any domestic or international terrorist act, she said.
A member of the mosque who stopped by between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. to use the restroom at the two-story brick building, located at 1925 E. Atwater Ave., discovered the fire before it caused extensive damage, said Nathan Ainslie, president of the mosque's executive board.
A burned Quran, Islam's holy text, was found near the broken window, and fire damage inside the building was limited to a wall, Ainslie said.
When asked if the mosque had received any messages or threatening calls, he said, "Not to my knowledge. I can't comment on some of this stuff, because the investigation is ongoing."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., released a statement Saturday saying, "We can only hope that the vandalism and fire were not prompted by the tragic events that occurred in London on Thursday."
On the day terrorists set off explosions in London, the council issued a statement advising mosques in the United States to step up safety measures, noting that at times of international crisis, anti-Muslim incidents nationwide tend to increase….
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050709/NEWS01/507090489/1006/NEWS01
TVNZ – July 10, 2005
Six Auckland mosques vandalized
Auckland's Muslim community found six mosques vandalised and walls tagged in graffiti with the message "Londoners RIP" following the terrorist bombings in London that killed more than 50 people.
In what appeared to be a co-ordinated series of attacks in central, south and west Auckland, vandals smashed glass windows and doors and left variations of the same message in black paint on walls facing the street.
Muslim leaders and government ministers condemned the attacks.
New Zealand Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan said it was the first time an attack on this scale had occurred against the country's 40,000 Muslims, about 25,000 of whom live in Auckland.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411415/596900
ITV – July 9, 2005
Arsonists target mosque IN northern England
Arsonists have targeted a Mosque in the north of England, sparking fears it may have been in retaliation to the bomb attacks in London.
Fire broke out at the Wirral Islamic Cultural Centre, Shahjalal Mosque, on Birkenhead, Merseyside in the early hours of the morning.
Although the building was empty at the time, one man who lives in a flat above the mosque was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Chief Superintendent Alan Jones, of Merseyside Police, described the attack as "senseless and very dangerous".
He added: "It is of great importance in the current climate that Merseyside sees itself as one community, and we must be united in our condemnation of those that would target people based on their age, race, religion or gender.
http://www.itv.com/news/britain_1460219.html
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