A mosque in Northeast Philadelphia has been targeted in an arson attack, an incident that local officials condemned as brazen and unwarranted. The attack struck a place of worship at the heart of the community and prompted a public show of support from elected representatives who gathered at the site.
The nature of the attack was captured on camera. According to the account, footage released by police shows a person breaking out the windows of the building and then throwing in something that allowed it to light up in flames, in what investigators have treated as a deliberate act.
The fire was noticed before it could spread unchecked. According to the reporting, a young woman discovered the fire and decided to act, calling the fire department so that help could be sent to the mosque, a step for which she was singled out for praise.
Emergency services then moved in to contain the damage. According to the account, firefighters and police officers responded to the scene to ensure what officials described as the preservation of property and the preservation of life, while a neighbour who alerted police was also credited with helping.
Despite the flames, the human toll was avoided. According to the reporting, no one was harmed in the attack, even though the aftermath showed significant devastation to the building, underlining how much worse the outcome could have been.
Elected officials framed the attack in stark terms. According to the account, state representative Anthony Bellman, who represents the district where the mosque is located, was joined by colleagues at the site and stressed that the assault on the place of worship should concern everyone of faith.
Those officials also pressed for the case to be pursued as more than a fire. According to the reporting, they urged law enforcement to take the matter seriously, describing it as not merely an arson but a hate crime, and said that in a community they called inclusive there was no room for hate.