Mosque Arson Case Is Continued

The case of a Muslim man charged with first-degree arson in the mid-2010 fire at a Marietta mosque has been continued.

The next calendar call is Oct. 12, when the case could be tried

Tamsir Mendy, 26, originally from Gambia and most recently a Powder Springs resident, is accused of setting fire to the Masjid Al-Hedaya (Islamic Center of Marietta) sometime after evening prayers July 5, 2010.

Accelerants were used in the fire, and Mendy confessed to the crime, fire officials said. During a probable-cause hearing last year, Assistant Fire Chief Scott Tucker summarized Mendy's confession.

The burned mosque had split off from another congregation. Both groups were worshipping on adjacent properties, but there had been friction, said Tucker, who has been subpoenaed to be in court Monday.

Mendy reportedly told police he wanted the groups to worship together again. See more on this case.