Fire at Tenn. Mosque Building Site Ruled Arson
Updated at 9:25 p.m. ET
Federal officials are investigating a fire that started overnight at the site of a new Islamic center in a Nashville suburb.
Ben Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department confirmed to CBS Affiliate WTVF that the fire, which burned construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, is being ruled as arson.
Special Agent Andy Anderson of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CBS News that the fire destroyed one piece of construction equipment and damaged three others. Gas was poured over the equipment to start the fire, Anderson said.
The ATF, FBI and Rutherford County Sheriff's Office are conducting a joint investigation into the fire, Anderson said.
WTVF reports firefighters were alerted by a passerby who saw flames at the site. One large earth hauler was set on fire before the suspect or suspects left the scene.
The chair of the center's planning committee, Essim Fathy, said he drove to the site at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning after he was contacted by the sheriff's department.
"Our people and community are so worried of what else can happen," said Fathy. "They are so scared."
The fire was smoldering by the time Fathy and the center's imam, Ossama Bahloul, had arrived. Fathy was told that responders had smelled gasoline near the fire.
Fathy was later contacted by members of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who told him the incident was under investigation and to remain calm.
Digging had begun at the site, which was planned as a place of worship for the approximately 250 Muslim families in the Murfreesboro area, but no structure had been built yet, according to Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the planning committee and a professor of engineering technology at Middle Tennessee State University.
"This is a shock," said Sbenaty. "We've had small act of vandals. But this is going to be a crime and whoever did it, they should be punished to the full extent of the law."
The center had operated for years out of a small business suite. Planning members said the new building, which was being constructed next to a church, would help accommodate the area's growing Muslim community.
"We unfortunately did not experience hostilities for the 30 years we've been here and have only seen the hostility since approval of the site plan for the new center," said Sbenaty.
Opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer; they are afraid the 15-acre site that was once farmland will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government.
"They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group," Bob Shelton, a 76-year-old retiree who lives in the area, told The Associated Press.
Shelton was among several hundred demonstrators who recently wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said "No Sharia law for USA!," referring to the Islamic code of law.
Others took their opposition further, spray painting a sign announcing the "Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro" and tearing it up.
Earlier this summer opponents criticized the planned mosque at hearings held by the Rutherford County Commission, as supporters held prayer vigils.
At one such prayer vigil, WTVF reported opponents speaking out against construction.
"No mosque in Murfreesboro. I don't want it. I don't want them here," Evy Summers said to WTVF. "Go start their own country overseas somewhere. This is a Christian country. It was based on Christianity."
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Federal officials are investigating a fire that started overnight at the site of a new Islamic center in a Nashville suburb.
Ben Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department confirmed to CBS Affiliate WTVF that the fire, which burned construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, is being ruled as arson.
Special Agent Andy Anderson of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CBS News that the fire destroyed one piece of construction equipment and damaged three others. Gas was poured over the equipment to start the fire, Anderson said.
The ATF, FBI and Rutherford County Sheriff's Office are conducting a joint investigation into the fire, Anderson said.
WTVF reports firefighters were alerted by a passerby who saw flames at the site. One large earth hauler was set on fire before the suspect or suspects left the scene.
The chair of the center's planning committee, Essim Fathy, said he drove to the site at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning after he was contacted by the sheriff's department.
"Our people and community are so worried of what else can happen," said Fathy. "They are so scared."
The fire was smoldering by the time Fathy and the center's imam, Ossama Bahloul, had arrived. Fathy was told that responders had smelled gasoline near the fire.
Fathy was later contacted by members of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who told him the incident was under investigation and to remain calm.
Digging had begun at the site, which was planned as a place of worship for the approximately 250 Muslim families in the Murfreesboro area, but no structure had been built yet, according to Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the planning committee and a professor of engineering technology at Middle Tennessee State University.
"This is a shock," said Sbenaty. "We've had small act of vandals. But this is going to be a crime and whoever did it, they should be punished to the full extent of the law."
The center had operated for years out of a small business suite. Planning members said the new building, which was being constructed next to a church, would help accommodate the area's growing Muslim community.
"We unfortunately did not experience hostilities for the 30 years we've been here and have only seen the hostility since approval of the site plan for the new center," said Sbenaty.
Opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer; they are afraid the 15-acre site that was once farmland will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government.
"They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group," Bob Shelton, a 76-year-old retiree who lives in the area, told The Associated Press.
Shelton was among several hundred demonstrators who recently wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said "No Sharia law for USA!," referring to the Islamic code of law.
Others took their opposition further, spray painting a sign announcing the "Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro" and tearing it up.
Earlier this summer opponents criticized the planned mosque at hearings held by the Rutherford County Commission, as supporters held prayer vigils.
At one such prayer vigil, WTVF reported opponents speaking out against construction.
"No mosque in Murfreesboro. I don't want it. I don't want them here," Evy Summers said to WTVF. "Go start their own country overseas somewhere. This is a Christian country. It was based on Christianity."
Popular on CBSNews.com
- TWA Flight 800 gets another look 17 years later 110 Comments
- America's endangered historic places 11 Photos
- FBI: No sign of Jimmy Hoffa's body in Detroit suburb
- Serena Williams sorry for "what I supposedly said" on rape
- Reporter Michael Hastings dies at 33
- TWA Flight 800 disaster - a look back 19 Photos
- 3 football players charged in Naval Academy rape case
- Scientists say shipwreck timber in Lake Michigan centuries old
As a former Marine I was totally outrage at the coverage of the ending of the Iraq War by the white control media! It wasn't long ago that the public could turn on the news and hear "our troops " our American hero" ! Then President Obama came into office and the military achievements are off the news map. The Afghanistan War is criticize by the top general and the white control media reports on how there is no corporation with the President of Afghanistan and the United States! The war in Afghanistan is going badly the war is going badly is repeated over and over by the white control media! Then it's the war in Iraq that the white control media continue to play up the surge even after Bush/ Cheney is out of office! The world now knows that there would had not been a need for a surge if President Bush had just half a brain! There was no WOMD ( Weapon of Mass Destruction) therefore no need to attack Iraq no need for the Iraq War! But getting back to my outrage! 4,300 plus American troop DEAD nearly 100,000 wounded another 45% suffer from mental illness! 33% divorcing 41% can't find employment and 12% losing their homes! All for a war that Bush/ Cheney started with no plan and no proper armor! But the white control media both liberal and conservative gave the men and women hardly no coverage on their return from Iraq. But when Tiger Woods held a press conference the media cut into programs to hear all the details! SHAME ON US ALL! Men and women of all race and religion fought and died for you! And the white control media allowed politic and hate and divide to disrespect America and the troops! The collective mentality to demonize and belittle anything and everything that President Obama attempts to do is obvious and shameful! Blaming President Obama for the mess that Bush/ Cheney did is outrageous! President has done more then many Presidents before him. But it is played down by the white control media! And the white Republican negative spend is picked up and repeated over and over! I for one am sick of Republicans telling me what most Americans think and believe! Negative polls that nobody knows who participates in are quoted over and over by the white control media! When President Bush was in office there where polls that said the Iraq war was WRONG! The Republican Party could careless and continue the war! So they don't care what the public said. It's about POWER! The first black President is held to a different standard then the past 43 white Presidents!
And, you've got people wearing "Vote for Jesus ' T-shirts who are (at least some of them) trashing the entire Muslim world? Is this really going to help the cause of Christ?
http://godhistoryandyou.blogspot.com
I am just wondering how many fights and battles the whites of America are trying to start. I am also wondering who is next group of minorities in America for whites to target, so far I?ve seen the blacks and latinos, now back to muslims?..
More on White Supremacists: It?s not that the assortment of neo-Nazis, Klansmen, anti-Semites and others who make up this country?s radical right have suddenly discovered that a man should be judged based on the content of his character, not his skin. On the contrary. A growing number of white supremacists, and even some of those who pass for intellectual leaders of their movement, think that a black man in the Oval Office would shock white America, possibly drive millions to their cause, and perhaps even set off a race war that, they hope, would ultimately end in Aryan victory.
The White Supremacist are growing in number since the Tea Party and President Obamas presidency: ?Could it be that the nomination of Obama finally sparks a sense of unity in white voters? I would propose that this threat of black, muslim [sic] rule may very well be the thing that finally scares some sense back into complacent whites throughout the nation.? ?Actually,? said another poster, ?if Obama were to win, it would be the best thing that ever happened to the Klan. They would have massive growth.?
Latinos are not a target, it's Mexicans and people who come here illegally and try to take over our country...
It's much the same with Muslims... Besides the fact that we've had a rash of Muslim extremist attacks, word is spreading about Muslim Brotherhood philosophy... An organization which controls every large Muslim group in this country... The Holy Land Foundation trial in Texas exposed many of these connections to not only the Muslim Brotherhood but to terrorism financing as well... One only has to look at Europe to see that this is not just American Islamophobia... I mean when you hear audio of radical Imams boasting how they intend to take over Europe and the United States, do you really think that people aren't going to start opposing these groups???
Read and learn..."
Well, as I've been trying to tell you, I know both religions quite well. Both espouse murder, and both have enough lunatics to follow that out no matter what.
But you cannot say your religion is one of peace when that's clearly not the case.
What it comes down to is:
"Don't dish it out if you can't take it."
.
You know nothing if you try and compare radical Islam with any other religion... That is why I say that you need to learn... Read the Qur'an, read the Hadith, biographies of Muhammad...
If you watch the world news too, someone is killed in the name of Allah every day... This is in addition to the other atrocities...
You would help the very people that support terrorism by spreading their propaganda!
We are not a theocracy.
Your Bible also calls for violence. Your religion is not one of peace, either.
the hatred in this Country. But yet you go out say/lying that you are a Christian. more like the DEVIL to me. And all of you support such is fighting against God's will. What if they do not serve the same God, but aleast they serve their God and they requires the same respect as you or anyone else. What if they had burned down a Christian Church? But they have shown USA citizens that they are better than that. I say when they, those KKKs, muslins' haters are arrested, prosecute them to the fullest of the law and give them the max sentence that they can get, and that will send a massege to the rest of them! Those muslins have a right to build their church and center were ever they desire and if I was them, I would put someone in the area at night and shot whoever setting the fire, kill that thug dead and everyone will know who was setting the fire b/c his @$$ will have been on fire. What wrong with these wanna-be Christian
that will never see heaven! God is sever is a God of love, compassion and truth! My God bless all of you and the muslins' haters also!
Right slappy... You know, after 9-11, there were a lot of Americans who started studying radical Islam to find out what there motivations were...
I'm not sure what's going on with this particular mosque... Haven't read too much about it... "
Well, folks, that about says it all.
.
Be honest though, you don't know anything about Islam, do you?
The truth is, both books espouse murder. Both religions have nuts who will do so. All religions are idiocy, because no one agrees with them.
How many sect of Islam are there?? And how many of Christianity???
What it comes down to is that ANY radical religious view is bad for us. So ban radicals who hurt people.
Oh - wait!! Our law already does that!!
Mind your own damn business.
After all, aren't they the new spokesmen on civil rights now?
That's what they call themselves anyway.