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Arson suspected in fire at mosque attended by Orlando nightclub gunman

No one was in the mosque at the time of the fire.

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In a statement, it said: “A fire at any place of worship is alarming, regardless of the circumstances”.

Holzhauer is Florida regional director of the Anti-Defamation League.

Mateen occasionally attended the Islamic Centre of Fort Pierce, coming to prayers with his father and young son, Imam Shafiq Rahman told The Post in June.

About 30 investigators were still at the mosque after 9 a.m. It is not known why Mateen targeted the nightclub, which was largely attended by members of the LGBT community.

“Evidence has revealed this fire was set intentionally”, he said.

The footage shows the man approach the building, then a flash, then the man running away. Back in July, a few weeks after the Orlando shooting, a Muslim man outside the mosque was assaulted by an intoxicated man who reportedly said, “You Muslims need to go back to where you came from”. He left on a motorcycle with a low seat and high handlebars. There is no indication as to whether the fire had anything to do with September 11 or the Muslim Eid holiday.

Wilfredo Amr Ruiz is Florida’s director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Mateen killed 49 people at the Orlando gay club in the early morning hours of June 12th.

Parsons, a gutter installer with the phrase “trust no one” tattooed on his chest, said his mother’s oncologist attends the mosque.

Since the shootings and revelations of Mateen’s ties to the Islamic Center, the congregation has received threats. He added that the sheriff’s office is investigating the incident as an arson.

After Mateen carried out one of the worst mass shootings in USA history, the center cooperated with the FBI and local police in their investigations, condemned Mateen, and held a blood drive to help the victims. Sheriff’s officials say they’ll be releasing the video and asking for the public’s help in identifying the person seen in the video.

Fire crews on the scene reported flames were shooting through the roof.

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The fire was extinguished by firefighters after a 911 call was made.

St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office investigating fire at Islamic Center of Fort Pierce