FBI to investigate fire at California mosque

Sherry Barkas and Anna Rumer | The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun

Show Caption Hide Caption Fire at Coachella, Calif., mosque Security employee Ray Brewster talks about the fire at Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley mosque in Coachella.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A fire broke out Friday at a mosque in Coachella, and FBI investigators were en route to help investigate the cause.

People were inside the mosque when the fire started, but no injuries were reported.

The FBI was assisting local law enforcement in determining the cause, agency spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also plans to help in the investigation.

Witnesses described hearing a “loud boom” and seeing flames, said Reymundo Nour, the mosque’s acting imam, who was not on the site at the time. He said the mosque had been “firebombed.”

"At approximately 12:11 p.m., officers from the Coachella Police Department received a call regarding a possible arson at the Islamic Society of Coachella Valley," Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesman Deputy Armando Muñoz said.

The investigation is continuing and no other details could be immediately released, Muñoz said.

Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Cal Fire officials are talking to witnesses, but have not confirmed if this is an arson fire.

The same mosque was shot at last year in what was investigated as a hate crime.

Friday's incident comes nine days after a mass shooting by a radicalized couple at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, where 14 people were killed and 21 others were injured.

While the fire has been contained to the front lobby of the 1,800-square-foot, single-story building, there is smoke damage throughout the mosque, officials said.

Abdullah Salaam, a member of the Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley, confirmed that there had been a shooting at the same mosque last year.

In that incident, four people were inside the mosque when at least five shots were fired, three hitting a car parked out front and others striking the building.

The incident was treated as a hate crime but never resolved.

"We're a peaceful people," Salaam said of the Muslim community.

The mosque has been around for about 17 years.

Mosque security guard Ray Brewster said he expects to increase security at prayer services after Friday's fire.

Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., whose district includes Coachella, said he was "deeply concerned” about the incident.

“I call for a thorough investigation to this arson as a possible hate crime and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ruiz said.

“Our faith in humanity will not be intimidated and we stand together against any form violence towards the innocent."

More than 20 community members gathered behind the crime scene tape outside of the burned building in the minutes after the fire was first reported.

Many who attend the mosque came to show their support for their religious community and fight back against what they believe is a religiously motivated act.

"This is just another form of a terrorist attack on Muslims," said Muhammad Bwaneh, who prays at the mosque regularly. "And whoever did this is considered a terrorist for attacking a place of peace where people come to do their prayers."

Contributing: The Associated Press