Washington, D.C., based CAIR also renewed its call for possible hate crime charges for the arson.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for 43-year-old Isela Camarena for allegedly attempting to set fire to the Islamic Center of New Mexico Nov. 29 in Albuquerque. Security camera video of the incident shows a woman lighting multiple fires near the mosque’s prayer room.
Camarena had reportedly been to the mosque twice before the vandalism, and police say she once pulled a fire alarm. Police and mosque officials believe she was trying to test security measures. Camarena is facing a third-degree felony arson charge.
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said, “We welcome the identification of a suspect in this disturbing attack on a house of worship and urge law enforcement authorities to consider possible hate crime charges if a bias motive is indicated by the evidence gathered in the investigation. As hate incidents target minority communities nationwide, a clear message needs to be sent that bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated.”
Hooper noted that CAIR called for a hate crime investigation into the vandalism earlier this month.
Hooper also noted that CAIR-Arizona has called for stepped-up security at mosques in that state following an assault and vandalism at a mosque in Tucson.
Source: ladailypost.com