Mosque burns; cause undetermined

[Ilsa]

Source: Victoria Advocate

Flames engulfed the Islamic Center of Victoria on Saturday morning as firefighters battled the blaze and congregation members watched from the curb, overcome with emotion.

Its a house of worship, said Shahid Hashmi, president of the center, as he watched the flames from across the street.

Firefighters and several engines were dispatched to the burning building, 201 E. Airline Road, after 2 a.m. and battled the blaze into the morning.

As of 3:30 a.m., the building still was fully engulfed in fire.


Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/jan/28/breaking-fire-consumes-victoria-islamic-center/

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Victoria texas, a city of about 70,000, but a crossroads of other small towns.
I'm not certain the link works because it may be a mobile app link.
The area is very redneck and afraid of anything not Baptist or Catholic, so nothing would surprise me, accident or arson.

[sagesnow]

1. Is this in Australia?

If so, they seem to have the same zenophobic asshats there that we have here.

[Ilsa]

3. Texas. I'll add it to post. Nt

[Chasstev365]

2. Where is Victoria? Canada, Australia?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Texas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria,_Texas

[Ilsa]

5. Just edited post to reflect Victoria texas. NT

[Chasstev365]

7. It's getting like Kristalnact!

We ALL have to push back on the crazies!

[marked50]

6. Victoria, Texas

Just north of Corpus Christi

[cannabis_flower]

17. I'm originally from Victoria.

It's actually about half way between Houston and Corpus Christi. Ninety miles from Corpus and 125 miles from Houston. It is also about 115 miles from San Antonio and 126 miles from Austin. They call the city the Crossroads of South Texas.

I hope it isn't arson but I suspect it might be. It is a very Republican Trump town. It makes me sad to think someone from Victoria could be so hateful.

[hamsterjill]

18. A former friend of mine's son-in-law attended the inauguration.

The family lives in Victoria. His whole family is Trump dumb.

[Doug.Goodall]

8. The cause is determined to be Trump, then work down to the actual perpetrators

The deplorables are mindlessly carrying out Trump's agenda without even knowing it.

[Ilsa]

9. Comments section had one

Comment blaming trump, so the Hispanic female poster was told to go back to her own country so "we can have our jobs back". The ones attacking her see no correlation to this probable ctiminal act (the mosque was less than 20 years old, IIRC) and Herr Trumpenfurher.

[texasfiddler]

10. I live 25 miles from the Mosque

I hope it is not arson. I am going to attend the planned support service for the mosque.

[leftynyc]

11. This country is in a very dark place

My heart is breaking.

[Ilsa]

12. UPDATE: A GoFundMe site has raised $109,000+ out of

needed $450,000 from people of all faiths from all over the US. I saw one from London, too.

There will be a press conference at 6pm CST from the fire marshall.

[KewlKat]

19. wow, 300K in 13 hrs. Looks like they'll make there goal.

https://www.gofundme.com/victoria-islamic-center-rebuilding

[TomCADem]

13. This is terrible...

...but I am sure that the racists are feeling empowered and emboldened by Trump.

[Ilsa]

14. In the comments section, one man called it a false flag op.

There are plenty of trump defenders in south Texas. He's going to build a wall to keep the migrant farm workers, roofers (horrible job in summer in Texas), and maids out.

[EarthFirst]

15. 'Cause unknown...'

Give me a fu*king break!

The cause has been 'The Two Minutes Hate' style campaign that Trump ran during the election, and now has the legislative ability to make good on...

'Causes unknown...' -GTFO with that sh*t!

[Ilsa]

16. Press conference just now. No new information.

Sifting through the complex to figure it out, and it may take a lot more time.

[Stuart G]

20. k and r...nt

[Bengus81]

21. Keep this KICKED.......n/t

[Joe Nation]

22. We should ban all Christians....

until we can figure out what the hell is going on.