Firefighters worked to put out flames that broke out at an Islamic institute in southeast Houston.[/caption]A massive blaze has ripped through an Islamic community center in Houston, Texas, on Friday.
It is not known what has caused the fire that gutted a section of the building used for storage. Federal investigators are now looking for the source of the blaze.
Kenyatta Parker, public information officer at Houston Fire Department told Al Arabiya News: I can confirm that the fire happened this morning, that no one was hurt and no one was in the building at the time.
We currently have no official statement regarding the fire and it remains under investigation.
He said he was unable to comment regarding reports citing the Imam and his son who said they believed the fire was either an arson attack or started accidentally by a homeless person trying to shelter from the cold.
In a statement published on the centers Facebook page, the incident was described as a tragic event. It went on to explain that at Some time around 5 a.m.this morning, a fire was started in our third building. The blaze was so hot that the complete building and all its many contents were destroyed.
It added: Preliminary investigation has concluded that the fire was started by a person. Who it was is unknown at this time. But the investigators have made clear that the fire was not accidental.
Closing the statement, it added: Please do not spread hate; spread love, tolerance, and harmony, just as Prophet Muhammad (S) did. And added that activities at the center would continue as planned.
Responding to the statement Kenyatta Parker told Al Arabiya News he could not comment on the claim of foul play.
"The damage on the back building is total," Houston Fire Department district chief Ken Tyner earlier toldABC Newsas saying. "The whole entire building back there is burned up."
The cause of the fire is not yet known, ABC News quoted local Muslims who suggested a man was spotted near the center looking suspicious.
Imam Zahid Abdullah told ABC News he saw a man looking suspicious near the property on Wednesday and again the night before the blaze.
"My son was passing by here and somebody was sitting here in a white Ram, making mockery, chanting," Abdullah said.
"The first thing we think about is hate crimes that could go on," Hala Saadeh, who uses the community center, was reported as saying. "It says right on the front - Islamic Institute. Were not hiding ourselves.
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(Photo courtesy ABC News)[/caption]But Saadeh stopped short of claiming wrong doing, explaining: "We don't want to blame anyoneWe want a full investigation of what is going on."
Federal investigators are now looking for the source of the blaze.
The Quba Islamic Center, which holds prayer and educational meetings, is made up of three buildings with a small car park.
Investigators refused to speculate as to whether the fire was suspicious. But the incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the U.S. after the shooting of three young Muslims earlier in the week.
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Assistant Imam of the center Ahsan Zahid walks through the burned Quba Islam Institute on Friday morning, Feb. 13, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle )[/caption]It is still under investigation so we are not releasing any information, Allison Stein, chief investigator for HFD told The Citizen website.
Flames were seen ripping through roof of the mostly aluminum-structured building when firefighters arrived at the scene.
Everythings collapsed down. Right now, its so badly burned. Were still trying to put out the hot spots, get some of the smoke out so we can see if we can get arson in there. Theres an air-conditioning unit on top that we have to be careful it doesnt collapse on us. We havent really been able to get in there, The Citizen quoted Houston Fire Department spokesperson Ken Tyner as saying.
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Assistant Imam of the center Ahsan Zahid walks through the burned Quba Islam Institute on Friday morning, Feb. 13, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle )[/caption]By Al Arabiya
