Coachella, California: A person of interest has been detained in the investigation of a suspected arson fire at a Southern California mosque, authorities said.
Riverside County sheriff's officials said late Friday that the person was being questioned but declined to provide further details. No arrests were announced.
Earlier the department released a statement calling the blaze "an intentional act" and saying it would use all available resources to investigate.
People at the mosque described hearing a "loud boom" and seeing flames, said Reymundo Nour, the mosque's acting imam, who was not on the site at the time. He said the mosque had been "firebombed."
State fire investigators, the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI are assisting in the investigation.
In a statement released Friday evening, U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, whose district includes the area in which the mosque is located, called on authorities to investigate the blaze as a possible hate crime.
County and city officials also condemned the attack.
The mosque was hit by gunfire in November 2014 in what authorities investigated as a possible hate crime. No one was hurt in the early morning incident. The case remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Riverside County sheriff's officials said late Friday that the person was being questioned but declined to provide further details. No arrests were announced.
Earlier the department released a statement calling the blaze "an intentional act" and saying it would use all available resources to investigate.
People at the mosque described hearing a "loud boom" and seeing flames, said Reymundo Nour, the mosque's acting imam, who was not on the site at the time. He said the mosque had been "firebombed."
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State fire investigators, the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI are assisting in the investigation.
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In a statement released Friday evening, U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, whose district includes the area in which the mosque is located, called on authorities to investigate the blaze as a possible hate crime.
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County and city officials also condemned the attack.
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The mosque was hit by gunfire in November 2014 in what authorities investigated as a possible hate crime. No one was hurt in the early morning incident. The case remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made.
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