USA Intolerance - Mosques Spray Painted with Dead Man Jesus in California

2 California mosques vandalized, both with 'Jesus' spray-painted in graffiti

By Holly Yan, CNN

Updated 1416 GMT (2216 HKT) December 14, 2015

Story highlights

• Both incidents are classified as hate crimes, Hawthorne police say
• The FBI is also investigating whether federal civil rights were violated

(CNN)One mosque had "Jesus is the Way" spray-painted across the front. Another mosque was defaced and left with a fake grenade in the driveway.

Both acts of vandalism took place in the same California city, about an hour west of where the San Bernardino terror attack took place this month.

And Hawthorne police said both incidents are now classified as hate crimes.

Threats, harassment, vandalism at mosques reach record high

Early Sunday morning, Hawthorne police received a call about vandalism and a possible explosive device in front of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus-Salaam Mosque, the Police Department said.

When officers arrived, they found what looked like a grenade and evacuated the area. But the object turned out to be a fake plastic grenade.

Little boy donates his piggy bank to vandalized mosque

Someone had also spray-painted "Jesus" across the mosque's fence.

The same day, another mosque -- the Islamic Center of Hawthorne -- was found vandalized, with "Jesus is the Way" spray-painted on the front of the building.

Mosque fire being investigated as arson 00:53

Hawthorne police believe both crimes took place overnight.

The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are working with Hawthorne police in the investigation.

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"Investigators will work to identify the person or group responsible, the motivation and whether religious bias was a factor," the FBI said.

"All evidence will be reviewed by state and federal prosecutors to determine whether a violation under federal civil rights statutes occurred. The FBI is committed to ensure law-abiding citizens are protected and to deter those who would threaten them."

Hawthorne police said that after the San Bernardino attack, the department has communicating more closely with local Islamic centers.

"The Department will continue to closely support our faith-based partners and work to assure the safety of its members," Hawthorne police said.

CNN's Erica Henry contributed to this report.

'Jesus' spray-painted on two California mosques 01:45

Vandals Spray-Paint ‘Jesus’ on 2 Mosques in California

http://time.com/4147176/mosque-spray-paint-california-jesus/

• Associated Press
 

Dec. 13, 2015

    

A fake grenade was also left outside one of the mosques

(HAWTHORNE, Calif.) — The FBI is investigating after police in Southern California say two mosques in the city of Hawthorne were vandalized with paint and a fake grenade was left in the driveway of one of the properties.

The Hawthorne Police Department says it received a report early Sunday that a possible explosive device had been left outside the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus-Salaam Mosque. Officers found a replica of a hand-grenade and the word “Jesus” sprayed in white paint on the mosque’s metal gate.

The department says later Sunday it received a second call reporting the phrase “Jesus is the way” had been painted on the Islamic Center of Hawthorne’s facade.

Authorities on Friday arrested 23-year-old Carl James Dial Jr., of Palm Desert, in connection with a fire at the Islamic Center of Palm Springs.