VIRGINIA – Amid increasing trend of Islamophobic attacks against Muslims, a US Muslim advocacy group has called on the American authorities to thoroughly investigate the attack on Virginia mosque as a possible hate crime.
“Because of the effort required to sever the air conditioning lines, the history of previous incidents targeting the mosque and the rise in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide, we believe it is essential that law enforcement authorities investigate a possible bias motive for this vandalism,” Ibrahim Hooper, the National Communications Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), was quoted by NBC Washington News.
According to CAIR, an official with Manassas Muslim Association reported heavy copper air conditioning pipes at the mosque were cut Monday as worshipers finished morning prayers.
Worshipers heard a strange noise around 5 am but thought it was trash being picked up, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reported.
When the mosque began to warm up, they went outside and found the severed pipes.
Manassas Police are currently investigating the attack.