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Fire Investigated as Arson at Florida Mosque Orlando Nightclub Gunman Had Attended Fire Investigated as Arson at Florida Mosque Orlando Nightclub Gunman Had Attended
(about 3 hours later)
A fire broke out on Monday at the Florida mosque where Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed dozens of people at an Orlando gay nightclub in June, had worshiped. Investigators are treating the incident as arson. A fire broke out on Monday at the Florida mosque where Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed dozens of people at an Orlando gay nightclub in June, had worshiped, and investigators are treating the incident as arson.
A spokesman for the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Department, Bryan Beaty, said investigators were scrutinizing surveillance video showing someone approach the east side of the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce. The video showed a flash and flames appearing and the person running away. A spokesman for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Bryan Beaty, said investigators were scrutinizing surveillance video showing someone approach the east side of the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce. The video showed a flash and flames appearing and the person running away.
Two people — a neighbor and a passer-by — called 911 at about 12:30 a.m. to report the fire, Mr. Beaty said. Two people — a neighbor and a passer-by — called 911 at about 12:30 a.m. to report the fire, which could be seen coming out of the roof, Mr. Beaty said.
When firefighters arrived around six minutes later, about a quarter of the mosque was thick with smoke and flames, Catherine W. Chaney, a spokeswoman for the St. Lucie County Fire District, said. It was extinguished by about 6 a.m., Mr. Beaty said. When firefighters arrived around six minutes later, about a quarter of the mosque was thick with smoke and engulfed with flames, Catherine W. Chaney, a spokeswoman for the St. Lucie County Fire District, said. It was extinguished by about 5 a.m., the sheriff’s department said.
On its Facebook page, the Islamic Center described the episode as “an arson attack” and suggested another mosque for worship.
No one was in the building at the time, and there were no injuries, the officials said.No one was in the building at the time, and there were no injuries, the officials said.
With the investigation at its earliest stages, motive remained to be determined. Mr. Beaty declined to comment on whether investigators believe the fire was set because of Mr. Mateen’s connection with the mosque.With the investigation at its earliest stages, motive remained to be determined. Mr. Beaty declined to comment on whether investigators believe the fire was set because of Mr. Mateen’s connection with the mosque.
“It has been widely publicized that he did attend here at one time,” Mr. Beaty said, but he added: “We do not want to speculate.”“It has been widely publicized that he did attend here at one time,” Mr. Beaty said, but he added: “We do not want to speculate.”
The fire broke out the morning after the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but Major David Thompson of the sheriff’s department said in a statement that he did not want to speculate on whether there was a link. It also took place at the start of the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha. The sheriff’s office released surveillance video to ask the public’s help in identifying the suspect, who was described as a white or Hispanic male. The man arrived on a motorcycle at approximately 11:38 p.m., apparently carrying paper and a bottle of some type of liquid.
The video shows him approaching the building and a large flash is seen, presumably when the fire ignited, the sheriff’s office said. The man waves his arm around, possibly from a burn, and then runs away.
The fire in Fort Pierce is at least the third suspected arson at a Florida mosque this summer. A Tampa mosque was targeted twice in less than 24 hours last month, and a spokesman for the city’s fire department said Monday that the inquiry there remained active.
“It’s an open arson case,” the Tampa spokesman, Jason Penny, said. “At this point, we’re really relying on any information that the public may have.”
The Fort Pierce fire broke out on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but Major David Thompson of the sheriff’s department said in a statement that he did not want to speculate on whether there was a link.
“Certainly that is in the back of our minds,” said Mr. Thompson, referring to the Sept. 11 anniversary. He said that deputies had planned to provide some assistance at the center, adding “The folks here are peaceful; this is a horrible tragedy.”“Certainly that is in the back of our minds,” said Mr. Thompson, referring to the Sept. 11 anniversary. He said that deputies had planned to provide some assistance at the center, adding “The folks here are peaceful; this is a horrible tragedy.”
It also took place at the start of the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha. On its Facebook page, the Islamic Center described the episode as “an arson attack” and suggested another mosque for worship.
Mr. Mateen fatally shot 49 people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando before being killed by police officers who stormed the club.Mr. Mateen fatally shot 49 people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando before being killed by police officers who stormed the club.
The mosque, a former church that is a hub of Muslim life in working-class Fort Pierce, sits along a busy two-lane road. It attracts attention for its painted star and crescent, as well as its palm trees and the occasional protester.The mosque, a former church that is a hub of Muslim life in working-class Fort Pierce, sits along a busy two-lane road. It attracts attention for its painted star and crescent, as well as its palm trees and the occasional protester.
The mosque has been scrutinized repeatedly, but most closely for its ties to Mr. Mateen, who was known around the Islamic Center as being quiet. It has also been associated with a Florida man who carried out a suicide bombing in northern Syria.The mosque has been scrutinized repeatedly, but most closely for its ties to Mr. Mateen, who was known around the Islamic Center as being quiet. It has also been associated with a Florida man who carried out a suicide bombing in northern Syria.
After the siege at Pulse in June, the imam at the Islamic Center insisted that the mosque’s teachings could not have radicalized Mr. Mateen.After the siege at Pulse in June, the imam at the Islamic Center insisted that the mosque’s teachings could not have radicalized Mr. Mateen.
“There is nothing that he is hearing from me to do killing, to do bloodshed, to do anything because we never talk like that,” said the imam, Syed Shafeeq Rahman.“There is nothing that he is hearing from me to do killing, to do bloodshed, to do anything because we never talk like that,” said the imam, Syed Shafeeq Rahman.
Others who had known Mr. Mateen at the mosque also distanced themselves from extremism, according to interviews conducted in June after the nightclub attack.Others who had known Mr. Mateen at the mosque also distanced themselves from extremism, according to interviews conducted in June after the nightclub attack.
One man said that he had even reported Mr. Mateen to the authorities after Mr. Mateen acknowledged listening to messages by Anwar al-Awlaki, a cleric whose teachings have had profound, radicalizing effects on some young Muslims.One man said that he had even reported Mr. Mateen to the authorities after Mr. Mateen acknowledged listening to messages by Anwar al-Awlaki, a cleric whose teachings have had profound, radicalizing effects on some young Muslims.
“It was something he said he had done,” the man, Mohammad Malik said. “That was the red flag.”“It was something he said he had done,” the man, Mohammad Malik said. “That was the red flag.”