The Islamic Center of Houston caught fire after Friday prayers — and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives believes it was no accident.
An ATF spokeswoman said the fire had “multiple points of origin.” The spokeswoman said the blaze “appears suspicious,” though it is still “too soon to (determine) cause and origin”.
The mosque was “pretty much empty,” center president M.J. Khgan said of the two-alarm fire. No injuries were reported in the fire, which was extinguished shortly after roughly 80 firefighters arrived at the scene, according to CNN affiliate KTRK.
Smoke also damaged a pharmacy next door to the mosque, which is in a strip mall.
ATF on scene of a Mosque fire in SW Houston. @abc13houston pic.twitter.com/WqZlKWatB1
— Chris Graczyk (@13PhotogChris) December 25, 2015
Special Agent Nicole Strong of the ATF’s Houston Field Division said the agency assisted in the investigation as it typically does “when houses of worship are affected.”
Saturday prayers will be moved to a new location, Khan said.
“We are hoping it was an accident,” he added.
