Julie Garcia

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Less than two weeks after the Victoria Islamic Center went up in flames, officials have determined it was arson.

The Houston field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the state fire marshal's office, the Victoria fire marshal and the Department of Public Safety, began an investigation after the Victoria Fire Department put the fire out Jan. 28, 2017.

Local Muslims come to Victoria's aid after mosque burns

According to an ATF news release, the fire engulfed the building and caused $500,000 in damage.

As of Wednesday, a GoFundMe page set up to raise donations to rebuild the center has raised more than $1.1 million. The goal was $850,000.

Dr. Samer Jifi Bahlool, a member of Corpus Christi's Islamic Society of Southern Texas, said he was proud of local and national communities for supporting a founding principle of America — the freedom of religion.

"Some said they were atheists, Jews, Muslims — all supporters who thought it was wrong and banded together against all actions of discrimination on certain religious minorities," Jifi Bahlool said. "They all said 'This is what America is about.' "

After the fire, the small town of 62,000 immediately came together, with leaders of different faiths sharing their support.

Members of the one Jewish temple in Victoria, the Congregation B’Nai Israel, were the first to offer their house of worship for the Islamic community to use. They handed their synagogue’s keys to one of the Victoria Islamic Center's founders.

The Islamic Society of Kingsville will be the site of the Festival for Peace and Unity scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. It is partly sponsored by the Texas A&M University-Kingsville's chapter of KDChi Alpha Delta and Texas A&M International Students Association.

Participants will decorate the area around the mosque with chalk drawings proclaiming love and peace and a complimentary dinner of Middle Eastern and Indian food will be served. Mosque tours also will be offered to the public to create a better understanding of Islam, according to a news release.

Evidence indicates that the mosque fire was incendiary, or intentionally set, but it does not reveal that the fire was a "biased crime," according to the ATF news release. O.C. Garza, public information officer for the city of Victoria, would not comment on the evidence, stating that it is a key part of the investigation.

"We would like to get more information, particularly if anyone was around the mosque area between 1-3 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28," Garza said. "If they noticed anything suspicious, we would like to visit with them."

Victoria Fire Chief Tanner Drake said investigators are working "feverishly" to follow tips that could lead to the arrest of the person or people who set the fire, the news release states.

Congressman Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, released a statement after learning the fire's cause was arson.

"It was extremely upsetting to hear the cause of the Victoria mosque fire was ruled arson," Farenthold said in a news release. "While there is currently no suspect, the perpetrator must be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The ATF and Victoria mosque are each offering a $10,000 reward and Crime Stoppers is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or people responsible for this crime.

IF YOU GO

What: A Festival for Peace and Unity

Where: Islamic Society of Kingsville, 702 West Avenue B, Kingsville

When: 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11

Information: 361-455-9514

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Jews open temple to Muslims after mosque burns down