Police in Minneapolis are looking for a possible arson suspect who authorities believe is behind two mosque fires this week.
The police department’s Facebook account posted pictures of the suspect, who appears to be a White or fair-skinned man, Monday after a fire was reported at the Mercy Center mosque.
Surveillance footage captured the same suspect using a flammable liquid to start a bathroom fire at the Mall 24 mosque Sunday, according to local NBC affiliate KARE.
No injuries were reported after worshipers safely evacuated. No arrests have been made.
“We do not know for sure if Monday’s fire was arson or if both fires are related,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in a Tuesday news release. “However, due to the totality of the circumstances, we will investigate these fires as if they are connected until proven otherwise.”
Minneapolis Police have asked for the FBI and ATF to join their investigation.
Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told CNN that worshippers encountered the possible suspect at the Mall 24 mosque, causing the man to leave the area.
“We averted a major tragedy. The amount of liquid that he brought to cause the harm that we are expecting here — this mall could have been engulfed but it wasn’t,” Mr. Hussein told the network.
He said mosque patrons got rid of the fuel by pouring it down a floor drain.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.