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The mosque
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Tuba Zangaria mosque (Archives)
Photo: Jerusalem Fire and Rescue Services

Jerusalem mosque falls prey to arson

Vandals attempt to set abandoned mosque in capital ablaze; graffiti defaming Islam found on several walls. Building sustains light damage

Jewish terror in Jerusalem? Vandals attempted to set an abandoned mosque in Jerusalem's Strauss Street on fire overnight.

 

Firefighters who arrived at the scene were able to overcome the fire quickly and the building sustained only light damage. No injuries were reported.

 

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Security officials found graffiti defaming Islam and Arabs on the building's walls, as well as graffiti reading "price tag."

 


'Price tag' graffiti (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

 

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Jerusalem Fire and Rescue Services received a call about a fire in the city's center.

 

"The fire took hold of the west side of the mosque," Assaf Abras, Jerusalem Fire and Rescue Services spokesman, told Ynet.

 

Once the fire was out, firefighters inspected the building and found that slogans defaming Islam, Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad had been sprayed on the walls.

 


The scene (Photo: Jerusalem Fire and Rescue Services)

 

Some of the slogans read: "Price tag," "Kahane was right," "Muhammad is dead," and "marked for razing."

 

Initial investigation suggests foul play. The mosque sustained only light damage and the police have closed the building, which is currently undergoing renovations. A joint police-Shin Bet investigation has been launched into the case.

 

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat strongly denounced the attempted arson: "We must show zero-tolerance for any kind of violence and maintain the coexistence in the city," he said.

 

Meanwhile, the IDF said that two Palestinian cars were set on fire in the West Bank overnight, one south of Nablus and the other near Qalqilya.

 

Graffiti was found in both scenes. Security forces are investigating.

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.14.11, 07:15
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