Oregon fire raises Muslims' fears of attack backlash

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | Sunday 28 November 2010 | By JONATHAN COOPER and NIGEL DUARA

[DeaconBenjamin]

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Someone set fire to an Islamic center on Sunday, two days after a man who worshipped there was accused of trying to blow up a van full of explosives during Portland's Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Other Muslims fear it could be the first volley of misplaced retribution.

The charges against Mohamed Osman Mohamud, a Somali-born 19-year-old who was caught in a federal sting operation, are testing tolerance in a state that has been largely accepting of Muslims. Muslims who know the suspect say they are shocked by the allegations against him and that he had given them no hint of falling into radicalism.

The fire at the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center in Corvallis was reported at 2:15 a.m., and evidence at the scene led authorities to believe it was set intentionally.

Authorities don't know who started the blaze or why, but they believe the center was targeted because Mohamud occasionally worshipped there.

Arthur Balizan, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon, said there's no conclusive link to the bombing in Portland or specific evidence that it's a hate crime, other than the timing.

U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton vowed to prosecute the case aggressively.

Mohamud was being held on charges of plotting to carry out a terror attack Friday on a crowd of thousands at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, and it wasn't clear if he had a lawyer yet.

* * *

There were also no injuries in Sunday's fire, which burned 80 percent of the center's office but did not spread to worship areas or any other rooms, said Yosof Wanly, the center's imam.

After daybreak, members gathered at the center, where a broken window had been boarded up.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Authorities don’t know who started the blaze or why,****

Burning evidence and the fire got out of control?;-D

[Vigilanteman]

In the bizarre world of Obamaland, purchasing an airline ticket is automatic consent to an electronic or even actual strip search to prove you are not a terrorist under arbitrary rules which can be made up on the spot.

However, an actual confession to and boasting of terrorist acts means you are still innocent until proven guilty and can even have the charges dismissed under the most generous interpretation of criminal law possible.

[celtic gal]

Well said.
However, I also think that there will be more backlashes seen down the road.
I have seen some, but far too few, Muslims on TV and in our local area who are trying to do something about the problems but they can't do it alone and too many of their brethren are all too willing to let them and the rest of us face the onslaught and risks.