Posted on 08/17/2006 9:48:43 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
EL CAJON
A fire ripped through an Islamic center early Thursday morning, causing $2 million in damages before it was put out, officials said.
The three-alarm fire at the Kurdish Community Islamic Center was reported just after 2 a.m. and burned for more than an hour before firefighters from 15 different crews extinguished it, said Monica Zech, a spokeswoman for the El Cajon Fire Department.
"When they got here, there was heavy smoke coming from the building and then the fire broke through the roof and flames were shooting through the roof," Zech said. "It's pretty much a total loss."
The cause of the fire in this east San Diego suburb was unknown. Investigators were unable to search for clues inside the building because it was unstable, Zech said. Instead, they used fire truck ladders to get an aerial view of the inside of the 800,000-square-foot community center, she said.
Arson investigators from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI were on the scene.
The FBI would become involved if it was determined that the fire was a hate crime, Zech said.
Members of the community center arrived early Thursday for morning prayer, only to find the center in ashes. Zech said the center's owner was out of town.
New Government AAA Agency coming soon: Anti-Arab-Arson. 156,000 employees. Budget: $3.45 billion.
Sloppy. Jeez, what does she think it is; an indoor stadium?? It's 8000 square feet (in the article later in this thread). Journalist is only off by a factor of 100; business as usual.
They have learned much from Jesse Jackson and some of the other poverty-pimp "black church leaders".
EL CAJON -- Imam Amir Bajelori was happy to find a benefactor three years ago who provided Kurdish Muslims with the money to buy a building for a mosque…The benefactor installed Omar Al-Bayoumi as the building's maintenance manager with a private office at the mosque…
Now the mosque members say they are disheartened to learn that Al-Bayoumi, 44, may have been an advance man who helped set up a terrorist cell in San Diego. The FBI is investigating Al-Bayoumi's possible involvement.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/20011027-9999_1n27mosque.html
Bomb factory?
When I saw the ATF is there, work accident was the first thing that came to mind. Before that, I wondered if it was vandalism. Who knows, may be one of those self inflicted wounds to garner sympathy. Oddly, faulty wires never crossed my mind.
I missed that . . . the mosque is the size of an auto plant. [chuckle]
"I'd put money on Sunnis or Shiites."
Damn, I HATE it when this happens!!!
(Yes, it's sarcasm)
This was a Kurdish center? If so, this was a dumb idea, unless of course it was set by either Shiites or Sunnis, in which case it was done in a very calculated manner.
Lightning bolt from above?
Yes, I've seen that ad. A friend does a lot of business in the Kurdish part of Iraq, says it's really nice.
Would it be insensitive to ask if local Freepers could bring pure pork sausages and hot dogs to cook over the hot embers?
You're just covering for the Amish.
Was this a case of premature jihadulation?
"Jihad Lightning"
In my opinion, any comments suggesting that it's a good idea to burn down Islamic centers or mosques should be removed from the thread. That attitude is reducing ourselves to the same level as radical Muslims.
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