|
Mercury News – January 28, 2007
CA: Islamic Center attacks take more violent turn
By Cassandra Braun
Repeated vandalism at the Islamic Center of the East Bay (CA) over the past two years has some local Muslims concerned.
The most recent and violent came last week, when clergy workers arrived at the Antioch center Monday morning to discover that someone had shot up the center on West 18th Street.
Investigators counted seven bullets that had pierced the windows and walls of the mosque.
``This incident is very dire,'' said Mohammad Chaudhry, president of the center. ``People are scared. I'm not sure what to do.''
Chaudhry was opening the building when he discovered the bullet holes in the front windows.
Police say there are no leads in the case, which is being investigated as vandalism.
Investigators found no evidence that the center was targeted because of its religion, Lt. John Vanderklugt said.
``There were no messages left,'' he said. ``There were no indications that it was hate related.''
``We're lucky no one was here,'' said Chaudhry, who questions whether the attack was merely a random act of vandalism.
This is the fifth such malicious incident directed at the center in the past two years, he said.
A year ago, someone hurled a brick through the same front window. In September, derogatory voice messages were left on the center's answering machine.
Chaudhry said that since the center was established in Antioch years ago, members have enjoyed a tolerant and peaceful community. But the increasingly violent nature of the incidents has Chaudhry and others concerned for their safety.
Chaudhry believes the media are partly to blame….
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/16566073.htm
|
