Attack on New York City Islamic Center

Navideshahed: Authorities say they are investigating a report that a Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Shiite Islamic center in New York City. The Fire Department of New York says a blaze outside the Imam Al-Khoei (al-HO’-ee) Foundation building in Queens was brought under control quickly after a call came in at about 9 p.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported. There were minor damages to a door.

News ID: ۳۳۰۰۲۲

جمعه - ۰۲ فروردين ۲۰۱۲ / 2012 02 January

Cops are investigating a rash of Molotov cocktail attacks in Queens late Sunday, including one on an Shiite Islamic Center and another that set off a major house fire.

Police are handling the four bottle-bombings as possible hate crimes, officials said.

The homemade explosives were hurled at a bodega, the Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center in Jamaica and two homes between 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., cops said.

All of the targets were in Jamaica, within two miles of each other, police said.

“They definitely appear to be quite similar,”? a police source said, “We’re looking into them as bias crimes.”?

There were no reports of injuries, but Monty and Sonia Burnett’s home on 107th Ave. was heavily damaged.

“When I came to the front of the house it was ablaze already,”? said Monty Burnett. “It started on the front window and came into the house.”?

Burnett and his wife, who are African-American and Christian, were left shaken and homeless by the attack.

“We’re okay,”? said Sonia Burnett. “But why me? Why my house. I didn’t do anything.”?

Up to 80 people were at the Islamic center at 89-89 Van Wyck Expressway about 9 p.m. when someone threw two or three Molotov cocktails at the building’s brick facade, witnesses said.

“We had a few members downstairs and they heard it. We came out and put out the fire and called 911,”? said Maan Lasahlan, the center’s minister of religion.

Ali Rizdi, who attends the mosque, said he ran outside and began stomping out the fire. He said one of the gas bombs was fashioned from a glass Starbucks Frappuccino bottle.

“We are shocked,”? Rizdi said. “We live in the U.S. This is our country.”?

A bodega at 179-40 Hillside Ave. was also targeted about the same time as the mosque, police said.

The End
Source: Ahlul Beyt News Agency

Cops are investigating a rash of Molotov cocktail attacks in Queens late Sunday, including one on an Shiite Islamic Center and another that set off a major house fire. Police are handling the four bottle-bombings as possible hate crimes, officials said. The homemade explosives were hurled at a bodega, the Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center in Jamaica and two homes between 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., cops said. All of the targets were in Jamaica, within two miles of each other, police said. “They definitely appear to be quite similar,”? a police source said, “We’re looking into them as bias crimes.”? There were no reports of injuries, but Monty and Sonia Burnett’s home on 107th Ave. was heavily damaged. “When I came to the front of the house it was ablaze already,”? said Monty Burnett. “It started on the front window and came into the house.”? Burnett and his wife, who are African-American and Christian, were left shaken and homeless by the attack. “We’re okay,”? said Sonia Burnett. “But why me? Why my house. I didn’t do anything.”? Up to 80 people were at the Islamic center at 89-89 Van Wyck Expressway about 9 p.m. when someone threw two or three Molotov cocktails at the building’s brick facade, witnesses said. “We had a few members downstairs and they heard it. We came out and put out the fire and called 911,”? said Maan Lasahlan, the center’s minister of religion. Ali Rizdi, who attends the mosque, said he ran outside and began stomping out the fire. He said one of the gas bombs was fashioned from a glass Starbucks Frappuccino bottle. “We are shocked,”? Rizdi said. “We live in the U.S. This is our country.”? A bodega at 179-40 Hillside Ave. was also targeted about the same time as the mosque, police said. The End Source: Ahlul Beyt News Agency