Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
Dallas Mosque Attacked |
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Saleema |
09/12/01 at 18:20:57 |
Local Dallas area Mosque target of shooting IRVING, Texas (AP) _ Vandalism at two Dallas area mosques on Wednesday had some Muslims fearful they were targets of retaliation following terrorist attacks on the East Coast. At least six bullets shattered windows of the Islamic Center of Irving early Wednesday, causing about $3,000 in damage to the large pane windows fronting the shopping center location, officials said. A window at the Islamic Center of Carrollton also was broken by a slingshot-type device early Wednesday, police said. Windows at the Irving mosque were found shattered when workers arrived around 6 a.m. CDT Wednesday. Nobody was at the mosque when the shooting occurred and no injuries were reported. Irving police were investigating the incident. It was not immediately clear if the shooting was related to Tuesday's attacks. ``We are afraid for our families,'' said Jason-Yaseen Black, a mosque member. ``It's obviously misdirected anger,'' he said. ``Luckily no one was here when the shots were fired.'' Center president Mohamoud Egal said the mosque will continue holding services five times a day at the location, which is not marked with signs. ``We pray to God,'' he said. ``That's not going to change. We also are going to keep an eye on our women. We've advised them to stay home and be careful if they dress ethnically.'' Egal said the center planned to disable its Web site, which was targeted with ``derogatory'' e-mails Tuesday. The mosque had received no death threats. About 1,000 people attend services at the center, he said. The mosque also closed its school operation for two days, and members were to meet with the Irving police chief Wednesday to request additional patrols near the center. ``It's very sad. We're just trying as any Americans, any Muslim-American, to comprehend what happened and why it happened,'' said project manager Raouf Alkawldeh, his voice trembling. ``We called on our community for a blood drive, we set a fund for donations and we made a special prayer last night ... and to come in the morning and find out a place of worship like this trashed.'' In Carrollton, police spokesman Sgt. David Sponhour said his department increased patrols around area Muslim facilities as a precaution. He considered the incident an isolated one. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
NS |
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