Police Investigating Alpharetta Mosque Vandalism
Photo courtesy of the Islamic Center of North Fulton
Authorities are investigating a vandalism case that occurred at an Alpharetta mosque early Monday morning. The welcome sign at the Islamic Center of North Fulton on Rucker Road was spray-painted with the words “London Justice.”
The Alpharetta Police Department is treating the incident as an isolated vandalism case, said police spokesperson George Gordon. However, the department also reported the incident to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in light of recent events.
“The vandalism did reference to a major incident that occurred overseas recently in the United Kingdom,” Gordon said. “We just felt it necessary, as a precaution, to simply let them know what has occurred here.”
He said the Alpharetta police department is also increasing patrols around the center.
Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has reported the incident to the FBI and asked it to be investigated as a hate crime.
“Anytime there’s a crime against a house of worship, you have to be concerned about any hate crime that is associated with it so we’re looking for a more federal action,” said Yusof Burke, executive director of the organization’s Atlanta chapter.
One witness saw the suspect vandalizing the sign and described him as a Caucasian male with an English accent, police said.
The incident comes as a surprise to the people the center serves, as an incident like this has never happened since the mosque first opened its doors in 1998, said Moiz Mumtaz, chairman of the Islamic center’s board of directors.
“People are kind of frustrated, surprised, somewhat disappointed that this happened during these times and this part of Atlanta,” Mumtaz said.
“It will take few days for us to get over it and hopefully we’ll be back to normal.”
Alpharetta police are increasing patrols around the Islamic center.
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