Texas mosque set on fire in suspected arson
A mosque in southwest Houston, Texas has caught fire and arson investigators have been on the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.
The two-alarm blaze started around 2:45pm at the Islamic Society of Greater Houston in the 1100 block of Wilcrest Drive on Friday.
Eighty firefighters with more than five ladder trucks arrived at the scene and battled heavy flames inside the center located in a shopping mall.
No injuries have been reported so far, but the fire weakened the roof and smoke damage was reported at the pharmacy next door.
"With God's grace, no one was hurt and nothing happened," said Imran Momin, who owns the plaza at the corner of Wilcrest and Belfort and the restaurant that anchors it.
"It happened on Christmas, thank God, so God was looking out," Momin added.
According to officials, there are multiple origins of the blaze which is being investigated as suspicious based on that finding.
No other information has been made available so far, but local outlets say any fire at a religious structure is considered suspicious until proven otherwise in Houston as similar incidents have happened before in the city.
On Feb. 13, a massive fire broke out at another Islamic center in southeast Houston, damaging and destroying most of the building.
According to officials, an accelerant was used in the fire at the Quba Islamic Institute, which provides services for about 100 families.
The fire burnt a back building which was used for storing books, renovation supplies, and furniture.
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