Fire rips through Islamic Center near San Diego

ap on Riverside Press Enterprise ^ | 8/17/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

EL CAJON

A fire ripped through an Islamic center early Thursday morning, causing $2 million in damages before it was put out, officials said.

The three-alarm fire at the Kurdish Community Islamic Center was reported just after 2 a.m. and burned for more than an hour before firefighters from 15 different crews extinguished it, said Monica Zech, a spokeswoman for the El Cajon Fire Department.

"When they got here, there was heavy smoke coming from the building and then the fire broke through the roof and flames were shooting through the roof," Zech said. "It's pretty much a total loss."

The cause of the fire in this east San Diego suburb was unknown. Investigators were unable to search for clues inside the building because it was unstable, Zech said. Instead, they used fire truck ladders to get an aerial view of the inside of the 800,000-square-foot community center, she said.

Arson investigators from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI were on the scene.

The FBI would become involved if it was determined that the fire was a hate crime, Zech said.

Members of the community center arrived early Thursday for morning prayer, only to find the center in ashes. Zech said the center's owner was out of town.

[NRA2BFree]

One of these days we will have to take it to The Enemy, or we will all die.

Unfortunately, they're already in our country, so we won't have to go far, but I do agree with you. If every mosque in America burned down, I would be very happy about that, and if they were full of Muzzies when they did, you wouldn't see me shedding any tears!

I wonder how many more Americans have to die before our government admits that Islam is NOT a peaceful religion and stops them from coming into America?

[NormsRevenge]

I have a feeling after your comment someone here will beat then to it. ;-)

[RightWhale]

Let them stay rather than censor them so their knee-jerk reaction can be seen by everyone including the Kurds who are after the Israelis our best friends in the region of the ME.

[bfree]

I've never been more disgusted by a thread than by this one; I'm surprised the moderators are allowing it

sounding like a liberal, banning things. If you don't like it feel free to leave.

[NonValueAdded]

I think many are missing the ominous aspect of this. Has the inter-sect violence occurring in Iraq spilled over onto CONUS? I guess they couldn't edit out the reference to Kurdish in the name of the property but if the articles are glossing over that aspect, that does indeed warrant a hmmmm. A statement from the feebs that "no terrorism is involved" would clinch it for me. I hope this isn't the first shoe.

[RobRoy]

Kurdish? I wonder if this is muslim on muslim crime.

[hosepipe]

[ A fire ripped through an Islamic center early Thursday morning, causing $2 million in damages before it was put out, officials said. ]

Allahs lightning = So infidel insurance company will pay for remodeling..

[justshutupandtakeit]

Many here do nothing BUT "go off half-cocked" now if only they would take their delusions and go away things would be much better.

Those praising the fire need to explain how the Kurds are our enemies.

[liberte]

I was responding to this statement: "In my opinion, any comments suggesting that it's a good idea to burn down Islamic centers or mosques should be removed from the thread. That attitude is reducing ourselves to the same level as radical Muslims."

IMHO, it's a long way down to "their level". I was saying that lighting fires is not as bad as the acts of violence we continually see committed against non-Muslims by Muslims. You disagree.

[luckystarmom]

Maybe the fire started due to people working with explosives inside.

Doesn't have to be a hate crime.

[Dog Gone]

The rejoicing over the destruction of this Kurdish place of worship is disgusting. Really a low point in FR history.

[GeronL]

among the listed damages for insurance purposes they listed 2,200 cell phones, 100 AK-47 rifles and 500 pounds of plastic explosives.

[Post-Neolithic]

Disco Inferno - The Trammps

[RightWhale]

I think it is mindless.

[ksen]

I have a feeling after your comment someone here will beat then to it. ;-)

I can't wait! ;^)

[1rudeboy]

IMHO, it's a long way down to "their level."

Nope. You're there.

[Alouette]

"Work accident" or insurance scam?

[Stonewall Jackson]

I saw that. If true, the building would be six times the size of a Super Walmart.

[MineralMan]

"Kurdish? I wonder if this is muslim on muslim crime."

It could be. Or it might not be. It will probably take a fairly long investigation to determine that.

Either way, it is not the American way to burn down houses of worship, whether we like the religion or not. That's what they do in backwards middle-eastern countries.

Last I heard, the Kurdish Muslims were working with us, not against us.

[liberte]

Um, who have I raped, tortured and killed, exactly?