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January 4, 2012

Suspect Confesses to New York City Arsons at Religious Sites 
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Police in New York City say they have detained a suspect who has
confessed to arson attacks targeting three homes, a business and an
Islamic community center in and around Queens. On Sunday evening, a
security camera captured images of a hooded man throwing a Molotov
cocktail at a home that houses a small Hindu temple. Another attack
occurred at a prominent Islamic community center where roughly 100
people were worshiping. Appearing with the mosque's imam, New York City
Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly denounced the attacks.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly: "Here at Al-Khoei mosque, you can see the
damage on the facade out front. Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at
this location. Now these events are being investigated as possible hate
crimes. Another location was a residence that also was used as a Hindu
house of worship. Now, attacks on houses of worship are particularly
egregious because simultaneously they endanger lives, but they also
assail our religious freedoms."



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