Police are searching for a suspect after a mosque in Kent was vandalized Saturday morning.
Surveillance video captures the moment the suspect drives onto the property in a grey pickup truck before throwing what appears to be rocks through a window before speeding away.
Community members at the Islamic Center of Federal Way (located in Kent) are hopeful someone will recognize the suspect in the video and provide the information to police.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Board President Atif Nazir. “It puts everybody at unease in the community.”
Nazir said people discovered the broken window when they showed up Saturday to pray.
“Today this happens,” he said. “What’s tomorrow?”
It’s not the first time the Islamic Center of Federal Way has been targeted. Last year, suspects broke into the center and stole donation money.
In the years before that, Nazir said the center had been subject to harassment. People had gathered in the street shouting or screaming names, especially during times of prayer.
“We are here in the community over 15 years,” he said. “We’re good with our neighbors. We’re doing everything we can for the community.”
Police are investigating and looking to identify the suspect, as Kent’s City Council President pushes for steep penalties.
“Especially when places of worship are targeted, whether intentional or not intentional, it should be considered a hate crime,” said Council President Satwinder Kaur.
While the shattered glass left behind has been swept away, officials at the center know the scars will take longer to heal.
“It’s not the matter of the property that can be recovered, which we did pretty quick, but it’s the damaging of hearts and minds and your soul,” Nazir said.
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