Richmond-Area Mosque Vandalized For Second Time In Six Months

HENRICO COUNTY, VA — The West End Islamic Center near Richmond has been vandalized for the second time in the past six months.

This time, vandals struck the center during the holy month of Ramadan. West End Islamic Center officials believe the vandalism happened between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Henrico County deputies responded to the mosque, on Shady Grove Road in Glen Allen north of Richmond, around 4:45 p.m. Saturday in response to a report of vandalism. Upon arrival, deputies saw trash, graffiti, tables and chairs flipped inside the building. The vandals also broke a window, according to police.

"It is with great sadness that in just six months, West End Islamic Center has experienced two incidents of vandalism," the mosque said in a statement on its website. "We feel compelled to speak out against these expressions of hatred. An attack on any house of worship certainly feels like an assault on the community."

The vandals caused about $2,000 in damage, but it "could have been worse," a Center spokesman said in an email to Patch. The West End Islamic Center was not able to capture the incident and perpetrators on security cameras.

Police have yet to find the people responsible for the vandalism that occurred at the center six months ago, the West End Islamic Center spokesman added.

“We do not know or understand the motivation of the person(s). What we do know, is that love is stronger than hate, and the members of our Mosque will stand together,” the center said in its statement. “We trust that our neighbors and friends will continue to stand with us and support our community as we worship during this holy month of Ramadan.”

The mosque said it believes the incident merits local, state and federal authorities to investigate these events as a hate crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, also asked law enforcement officials to investigate a possible bias motive for the vandalism.

“We call on law enforcement to swiftly investigate this crime and increase patrols in the area until those responsible are apprehended,” CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement Sunday. “Because the attackers vandalized the mosque without stealing anything, law enforcement should also investigate a possible bias motive for this incident."

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Henrico County Sheriff's Office, Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000 or submit tips online at p3TIPS.com.