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Joplin mosque razed in fire; 2nd blaze this summer

By Maria Sudekum
Published August 6, 2012 4:00am ET
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Joplin mosque razed in fire; 2nd blaze this summer
Imam Lahmuddin holds his hands over his face after a fire destroyed the Islamic Society of Joplin, Mo., mosque, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, in Joplin, Mo. The fire was the second fire to hit the Islamic center in little more than a month. (AP Photo/The Joplin Globe, T. Rob Brown) MANDATORY CREDIT | T. Rob Brown

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — Investigators say it will take a few days to determine if the fire that destroyed a southwest Missouri mosque was arson.

Michael Kaste, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Kansas City office, said Monday that the agency is taking the investigation into the fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin very seriously. He says the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms together have about 30 investigators working to determine the cause.

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