By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 Reporter
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 Reporter: The worst terrorist attack in history was not even 24 hours old. U.S. officials warned terrorists like Osama Bin Laden, labeled a Muslim extremist, might be involved, but said they needed facts - proof - before naming any suspects. Yet to Abdul Raouf, project manager at the Islamic Center of Irving, it seems some one - or some group - couldn't wait to take revenge on his Muslim temple. Abdul Raouf, Project Manager, Islamic Center of Irving: We don't want people to rush to judgment like in Oklahoma. We suffered after that, and it turned out to be somebody else.
Zeeble: Raouf says those in his Mosque, like other Americans, were shocked and dismayed by the terrorist acts in New York and the nation's capitol. Like other places of worship, his Mosque conducted memorial services Tuesday and Wednesday, and also gave blood.
Raouf: It's a tragedy not for people in New York, for all of us. I have a family - four children - and they all suffer [Raouf cries] like anybody else. And we don't want to be victims of something that happens somewhere else in the world. We're here, we pray, we're peaceful, good neighbors.
Zeeble: Raouf called both the Irving Police and FBI about the shooting. Both are now investigating the possibility that it's a hate crime. For the moment, it's categorized as criminal mischief. Dallas's FBI special agent in charge, Danny Defenbaugh, expressed both his concern and frustration about this and one other alleged attack.
Danny Defenbaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI: Just because an individual is an Arab American or Muslim American, they are still American. And any attack, especially against a Mosque, is a violation of federal law. And it causes the FBI to investigate. And frankly, I shouldn't have to waste my time in doing vandalism-type cases with a national initiative and so many deaths and tragedies we've had in the last day.
Zeeble: Dallas Muslim leader Imam Muhammed Shakour traveled to the Irving Mosque in support of his fellow Muslims. He said it's necessary once again to distinguish between North Texas Muslims and the kind of religion practiced by bin Laden.
Imam Muhammed Shakour, Dallas Mosque: As all good religious people know, these are not religious people who've done these acts. No religious people, no scripture supports this kind of act. For us to be blamed is an injustice.
Zeeble: Irving police say they've increased their presence around the mosque and have put the investigation on a fast track. And they ask for help in locating a white male in his 40s, who was driving a beige, early 1980s Ford pickup with an extended cab, seen in the vicinity near the time of the shooting. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.