Chaos broke in a Loop mosque Sunday evening when an intruder allegedly shattered the entryway during the nightly Ramadan prayers and hurled hate-fueled epithets at worshippers. The disturbing incident occurred at approximately 8:00 P.M. at the mosque located at 231 S. State Street.
The man attempted to kick in the mosque's door before ultimately breaking the glass with an object, initiating an atmosphere of fear among the congregants. "Muslims should die," the assailant is said to have screamed, an aggression that mosque spokesperson Salman Azam has pressed to be acknowledged as a hate crime. However, it remains unclear whether the police have formally classified the incident in such a term, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
There has been a notable spike in hate crimes against Muslims in the area, escalating since last fall's war in Gaza. The scope of these incidents has ranged from vandalism and verbal abuse to the more heinous deed, the murder of a Palestinian-American youth in Plainfield, as indicated by past reports. The recent break-in and subsequent tirade within the Loop mosque have only intensified the fears of the local Muslim community, added Chicago Sun-Times interview with Azam.
In response to the event, mosque leaders are working closely with the Chicago Police Department and have sought the support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Additionally, measures to enhance security have been implemented, including the retention of private security personnel to better safeguard the sanctuary, which should have been a safe haven for peaceful worship as called out by Azam in the Chicago Sun-Times.
As for the perpetrator, no arrests have yet been made following the outrageous incident. Area 3 detectives are currently on the case, as reported by CBS News. The offender is known to have run off after causing damage to the Islamic center.
