Rock smashes mosque in Sacramento in suspected hate crime attack

A rock smashed into a mosque over the Christmas holiday weekend in northern California is suspected to be a hate crime.

The attack took place at the Islamic Center in Tracy near the state capital of Sacramento. 

"It's very clear to me it's a hate crime," Ghaleb Abdulla, a member of the board of trustees at the Islamic Center, was quoted as saying by local media. He added that this was the first time in 15 years they'd had to call law enforcement over such an incident. However, it comes at a time when there is a rise in attacks on mosques across the United States.

Surveillance footage shows what appears to be a man holding in his hand a large object that he throws into the mosque later that day.

"Because a house of worship was targeted by this act of vandalism, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this troubling incident, to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and to bring appropriate charges when a suspect is apprehended," said Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Sacramento Valley/Central California, in a public statement.

"Despite these types of attacks, we will work to create safe places for Muslims and all other faith communities," Elkarra added. 

CAIR is urging Muslims and Islamic institutions nationwide to take extra security precautions and is offering community leaders copies of its booklet, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety."