MO - Fire destroys Joplin mosque; 30 FBI agents assigned to likely arson blaze

[wfgodot]

I'll put this one in Up to the Minute for now instead of what I fear it will turn out to be - an arson fire at a house of worship.

'Suspicious' fire destroys mosque in Joplin (Joplin Globe)
FBI puts thirty agents on case

JOPLIN, Mo. — About a month after the roof of the Islamic Society of Joplin’s mosque was damaged in a suspected arson, the entire building burned down in a suspicious fire early Monday, leaving little but charred remains.
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The incident came a day after the deadly shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.

The FBI has about 30 agents investigating the fire, said Michael Kaste, special agent in charge of the Kansas City FBI office.
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“If this fire is determined to be deliberate in nature, it will be investigated to the fullest extent possible,” Kaste said. “Any act of violence to a house of worship is taken very seriously by law enforcement, and threatens the very core of the safety and security that our communities enjoy.”
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much more at the link above

And during Ramadan, the Islamic month of worship.

[badhorsie]

Well if this is arson then it is obscene and I hope that the perps are punished to the full extent of the law

[tlcya]

This IS obscene. A sad day for America again. I think you are right guys, this is arson and a hate crime. Makes me ashamed to share the title American with someone who would commit such a hateful, ignorant act.

[wfgodot]

It would be a different thing if the roof of the mosque hadn't have been set on fire last month, which was clearly attempted arson; cctv captured the image of a person of interest leaving the scene at the time, though he has not been found nor, despite LE's best efforts, has his identity been revealed.

After Milwaukee, the phrase "coming to a town near you" fits the bill viz a viz suspected hate crimes: Joplin is twenty miles from where I sit here typing.

Something's got to change.

[jaroba07]

So awful. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it was arson. Areas around Tulsa, Ok have numerous wildfires going on right now and they suspect those were arson too. Just so sad.

I am only about an hour away from Tulsa and Joplin!

[wfgodot]

Reward offered for information on mosque fire (Joplin Globe)


Video from last month's attempt (on July 4) to set mosque's roof on fire, with person of interest:

Arson at Islamic Center of Joplin, Mo - YouTube

Arson at Islamic Center of Joplin, Mo - YouTube

Rewards now total $25,000 for information leading to conviction on both fires. The video is quite chilling as it captures the matter-of-fact nature of the arsonist in action.

[rachelle]

Newspaper carrier may have talked to suspected arsonist

http://m.joplinglobe.com/TJG/pm_1053...tguid=Y60NZe1b

[rachelle]

Ozark Christian College student, Ashley Carter, 20, is organizing a rally to support the rebuilding efforts of the Islamic Society of Joplin

http://www.joplinindependent.com/dis...taff1344540965

[rachelle]

The mosque had hosted workers who came to Joplin following the devastating May 22, 2011 tornado, including AmeriCorps and Catholic Charities

$150,000 has already been raised for rebuilding efforts through an online fund

more at link:

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/J...rt-3775597.php

[wfgodot]

Thanks for news from the home front, rachelle, great as always.

[rachelle]

Originally Posted by wfgodot

Thanks for news from the home front, rachelle, great as always.

Hey no problem! I like to contribute here as much as I can!