Joplin mosque destroyed by 2nd fire in a month

A Carl Junction, Mo., firefighter works to extinguish the smoldering remains of the Islamic Society of Joplin mosque, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, in Joplin, Mo. / AP Photo/The Joplin Globe

(AP) JOPLIN, Mo. - A mosque in southwest Missouri burned to the ground early Monday in the second fire to hit the Islamic center in little more than a month, officials said.

The fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin was reported about 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said. The sheriff's department said the building was a total loss. No injuries were reported and no charges have been filed.

Imam Lahmuddin, who leads the mosque and was in the building until late Sunday, said he was "sad and shocked" about the fire.

"I'm still in front of the building looking at the damage and nothing can be saved," Lahmuddin said in a telephone interview Monday. "But since we are people of faith we just can remember that this is a thing that happened because God let it happen, and we have to be patient, particularly in the month of Ramadan, control our emotions, our anger."

Authorities sifted through the black debris Monday. Only remnants indicated a building had been there, including some stone pillars that were still standing and a few pieces of charred plywood loosely held up by a frame. At least a dozen law enforcement vehicles and a fire truck were at the scene.

A blaze at the same building July 4 caused minor damage and was determined arson. No arrests were made and the FBI has offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to charges in that fire.

Imam Lahmuddin holds his hands over his face after a fire destroyed the Islamic Society of Joplin, Mo., mosque Monday.

/ T. Rob Brown,AP Photo/The Joplin Globe

The agency released video footage of what appeared to be a man starting the July blaze that did not cause extensive damage. Sharon Rhine, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said the center's security cameras were burned in the Monday fire.

The FBI is investigating the cause of the latest fire and whether or not it was also the result of arson, said agency spokeswoman Bridgett Patton.

A Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization meanwhile called for more police protection at mosques and other houses of worship following the Joplin fire and a deadly attack at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever started the mosque fire.

About 50 families belong to the Islamic Society of Joplin, which opened in 2007 as a mosque and community center. The FBI led an investigation in 2008 when the mosque's sign was torched. That crime also remained unsolved.

Lahmuddin, who has lived in Joplin for about four years, said several people were at the center late Sunday. He said despite the attacks, the center's members have good relationships with residents and other churches. He said many are doctors at area hospitals.

On Sunday, a gunman killed six people at a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee. The imam said it was a cause of great concern that both faiths had seemingly come under attack.

"I heard that yesterday, and this morning we see this happen in our place," he said. "We are more fortunate that no one here got hurt in this incident."

[Mathion]

Let me re-write this to reflect the proper context:

Radical Christian insurrectionists set fire again to a non-Christian house of worship in a blatant act of terrorism, intending to intimidate and coerce the small Islamic community in Joplin, MO.

The Pro-Christian city government in Joplin issued a statement that "boys will be boys" and have no suspects and no investigation under way. The Federal government has stepped in to lend support to the act by promising much and delivering nothing.

[shanedroid23]

First, we have someone immediately labeling this person as a Christian and then we have someone who seems to be jealous that they weren't the one who committed this crime. Good to know us Americans are so tolerant of acts of terror when we are the ones doing it. Real nice, people. Real nice.

[griffon49]

Mighty christian of someone to do that.......

[nonpolitico]

A washington based civil rights organisation calling for protection for mosques eh?
How about that?
Has no-one thought that the burning of the building may have been some kind of anger generated by 9/11??
Oh, and could that same organisation lobby the Afghan President for the rights of US servicmen killed or maimed by HIS terrorist Muslim friends?
Or do we have only time for aliens in USA today.
I am still hurt and angry about New York and 9/11!
If the country reacted like the average US Citizen feels about those religious morons,there would be a big HOLE where Afghanistan was!!
I know that seems unreasonable, but what is reasonable about so called religious people who hide behind a bronze age religion as they kill innocents on 9/11??

[Mathion]

Actually, Islam came in the Iron Age, as did Christianity. Both rely heavily on the notion of monotheism which was started by the Jews during the Bronze Age.

Regardless of the motives, what was done was a crime. No one in Joplin caused 9/11. If you are still hurt and angry about NY on 9/11, get some therapy. You sound like you need it in view of your pathetic and amoral attempt to justify the persecution of a people who had nothing to do with the act you're angry about.

It's attitudes like yours that make people kill other people. Learn from it. Get over it. Get on with your life. Because for 11 years, you've been dancing to THEIR tune.