Attacks On Muslims: Texas Mosque Destroyed By Arson After Trump Announces Immigration Ban

Arson caused the blaze that burned down the Victoria Islamic Center in Texas last month, investigators said Wednesday. The fire left members without a place of worship and came hours after President Donald Trump passed a ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.

While the fire was believed to be intentional, the investigation "does not indicate the fire was a biased crime," the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives said. Soon after, the Muslim center took to its Facebook page and urged whoever was responsible to come forward.

"We appeal to the arsonist or arsonists to put an end to this tragedy and surrender to law enforcement," mosque members said in the news release. "The blessing of not having loss of lives or physical injuries makes it easier to try to correct the wrong and fix the damage before it’s too late."

Shaid Hashmi, president of the Victoria Islamic Center, said last month the cause of the fire perhaps could have been “an electrical problem from inside.”

“The entire building was destroyed,” he told International Business Times days after the fire. “We don’t know the situation right now … don’t know if it was set intentionally or if it was an accident.”

He made it clear he did not want to call the fire a hate crime despite it happening hours after Trump's ban on immigration. In Wednesday’s news release, the center said because “American Muslims have suffered from, and advocated against, stereotyping and bigotry,” they do not want to be “ hypocritical” as far as pointing the fingers “on any group of people based on assumptions and stereotype. Our Islamic faith calls upon us to not judge others, let alone base such judgment on assumptions and suspicion. Therefore, our message of unity, of hope, and inclusiveness will continue.”

Firefighters took about four hours to put out the blaze that left an estimated $500,000 in damages, ABC News reported. A reward of $30,000 was being offered for any information leading to the arrest of the persons responsible for burning the mosque, according to the Victoria Advocate.

A Gofundme page was created shortly after the fire to help with funds for rebuilding the uninsured mosque. The fundraising page has raised more than $1.1 million as of Thursday, surpassing its $850,000 goal.

"Our cry for help crossed geographical boundaries of donors of many states and over 90 countries," the news release said. "It crossed religious sects and faiths. It crossed political affiliations of Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives. Our 'human family' and spiritual friends heard us and responded with love, support and donations."

The members have already set up a mobile home next to the site to continue their services, Hashmi told the International Business Times.

Victoria is 79 percent white, 43 percent Latino or Hispanic, 6 percent black and 10 percent some other race, according to U.S. Census data. In 2000, 271 Muslims were living in the area known for its agricultural and industrial economy.