Missouri Mosque destroyed by fire
A second fire in less than five weeks occurred at a mosque in Joplin, Missouri early Monday morning. The cause of the latest inferno is still unknown, but Monday’s flames were much more devastating than those that occurred July 4, in an incident that authorities later determined was an act of arson.
Video shot by local television news station KSNF on Monday captured massive flames engulfing the building.
Firefighters were called to the scene at the Islamic Center of Joplin around 3:30 a.m., according to KSNF.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office told TPM a news conference has been planned for Monday afternoon, and that ATF and the FBI will be involved in the investigation.
‘The building was completely destroyed; along with the security cameras,’ Jasper County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sharon Rhine said in an email. ‘We don’t know at this time if it was arson.’
A call to the FBI was not immediately returned.
And, of course, he who shall not be named is also silent as well.