Fire officials investigate on September 12 outside the Islamic Center of Ft.
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The man accused of setting fire to the mosque sometimes attended by Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen was ordered held without bail Thursday after a judge called him a danger to the community and a flight risk.
“A search warrant was obtained and a search of Schreiber’s house was conducted that revealed Schreiber owns a motorcycle consistent with the surveillance video footage”, says Major David R. Thompson, director of law enforcement for the Sheriff’s Office, in a statement.
Authorities say Schreiber had “multiple anti-Islamic posts and comments” on his Facebook page.
A Florida mosque was set on fire Monday and authorities have arrested a 32-year-old man in the case, which will be prosecuted as a hate crime, according to WPBF-TV and Reuters.
Schreiber could face a 30-year minimum mandatory sentence or life in prison, Thompson said.
Thompson said detectives are still investigating whether anyone else was involved in the arson.
Federal authorities are also investigating the fire for any potential violations of federal law, USA officials said.
“As a result of the investigation, coupled with information received from Crime Stoppers, Schreiber was developed as a suspect in the investigation”, the affidavit said.
The blaze forced the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce congregation to relocate prayer services for Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
The mosque has reported receiving multiple threats of violence and intimidation after reports that Mateen, who committed the deadliest mass shooting in US history, sometimes attended. They also said he has a criminal past.
Ibrahim Hooper, national spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said attacks against the American Muslim community are becoming a daily occurrence.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) An ex-convict who posted anti-Islamic rants online confessed to setting fire to a mosque that the Orlando nightclub shooter occasionally attended, and said he was embarrassed by the crime, according to an arrest affidavit released Thursday.
“There is anti-Islam propaganda, and that corroborates our fear that it has to do with the Islamic community”, said Maj. Numerous arrests relate to relatively minor crimes, such as shoplifting, trespassing, battery, probation violation and larceny, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
The fire was started on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“Just like on June 12, when I was stressing that Mateen’s actions do not speak on behalf of Islam, I know that whatever religion Mr. Schreiber is, his actions do not speak on behalf of his religion”, Saleh said.
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“We would welcome the opportunity”, Benson said. “We belong here; they gave us this feeling”.
