Muslim leaders in Tracy, California are now demanding the firebombing of their mosque to be treated as a hate crime.
Fire damage was found at the Tracy Islamic Center on Saturday, December 26th, when mosque leaders say they found a molotov cocktail tossed over the gate at the building’s back door.
The Tracy Mosque never gets complaints, but Saturday morning, members discovered the vandalism before morning prayer….shattered glass and burn scars from the assault.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is demanding it be investigated as a hate crime – calling it a hateful act of firebombing and a clear sign of ignorance.
Basim Elkarra is a civil rights leader, serving as the Director of Sacramento’s Council on American-Islamic Relations: “More attempted firebombing, a mosque in Houston burned Christmas Day and another incident in Coachella, so now it’s hitting closer and closer to home and it is frightening.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations notes this is the latest of more than 70 incidents targeting American mosques this year.
The San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crime.
The center’s surveillance camera was not operational at the time, making it a bit more difficult for investigators.
The President of the Islamic Center says in the last 15 years, they have never had to call the sheriff’s department—-this is the first time.
