The Islamic Community Center of Gainesville was vandalized early Thursday morning by unidentified suspect(s) who broke several windows.
Three windows were broken by three large rocks thrown through each window, said Nas Salameh, 42-year-old vice president of the center.
The video footage didn’t show who vandalized the mosque because there were no cameras facing that side of the building, Salameh said. The windows broken were on the side of the building facing University Avenue.
The Gainesville Police Department is still investigating the situation. It isn’t currently labeled as a hate crime, according to GPD spokesperson Brandon Hatzel.
Salameh said that due to security concerns, even if it isn’t a hate crime, the mosque is looking to get more cameras and potentially build a gate.
“You know what the current situation [Israel-Palestine conflict] is. There’s a chance it could be drunk people but there’s a chance it could not,” Salameh said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Jordan Ramos at jramos@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @JordanR68971799.
Jordan Ramos is a fourth-year journalism major who spends his time singing in two different choirs and his a cappella group.
