A national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group Thursday called on the FBI to investigate whether Sunday’s vandalism of a mosque in Fort Collins was a hate crime.
The Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said the FBI has the resources to bring to this type of case that local police lack.
A brick was thrown through a window of the Fort Collins Islamic Center on Sunday. Some community leaders say the timing of the attack is suspicious because it followed a Saturday forum aimed at setting up an anti-hate group in the city and an appearance by an Islamic cleric who spoke at Colorado State University about terrorism.
Fort Collins police say there is no evidence that the damage done to the building was motivated by racism because there was no message left by the perpetrator.
“It has been our experience that anti-Muslim bigots do not always leave a calling card,’ said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the council.
The FBI office in Denver could not be reached for comment.
Fort Collins police officer Al Brown said Thursday that before the department asks for FBI help, “we are going to do everything we can investigation-wise to solve this crime.’
A videotape produced by the Fort Collins Islamic Center proved little help because it appeared to show only a reception for the cleric Saturday night, Brown said. There is little evidence to follow up on, he added.
“I can sympathize with the concerns of the Islamic community,’ Brown said. “We are doing everything we can.’
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 303-726-8674 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
