Christian Extremist throw firebomb at Mosque

TN: BOMB CAUSES FIRE AT NASHVILLE ISLAMIC CENTER - TOPNATALIA MIELCZAREK, Tennesean, 2/3/06http://www.dicksonherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060203/NEWS03/60203002Metro police, the FBI and the ATF are investigating a possible hate crime against a south Nashville Islamic center.Officials said someone threw a container with flammable substance against a wall of the Al-Mahdi Islamic Center on 404 Wingrove Street earlier today. No one was hurt, and the building sustained minor damage, ATF officials said.The motive of the crime is under investigation. No one has been arrested in connection with the attack or claimed responsibility for it.SEE ALSO:SUSPECT CONFESSES TO OVERNIGHT FIREBOMBINGS - TOPNews Channel 5, 2/3/06http://www.newschannel5.com/content/news/17108.aspMetro police said someone broke out a back window at the Al-Mahdi Islamic Center on Wingrove Road in south Nashville and threw a plastic bottle filled with a flammable liquid inside. They believe the same suspect also tried to burn down the Bakery USA on Elysian Fields Road.The homemade bomb was tossed into the Islamic Center landed in one of the classrooms inside the building, but because it was plastic, it did not explode. It did start a fire in the room however, which caused some minor damage.Shiite Muslims use the mosque for prayer, but fortunately, nobody was inside at the time."We take these crimes very seriously and we're going to do everything we can to help identify the suspect or suspects involved. Very fortunately, the structure was very mildly damaged and we certainly want to apprehend these people as soon as possible," Metro Police Capt. Paul Trickey said.Not far from the Mosque, someone also tried to bomb the Bakery USA Thursday night. A witness told NewsChannel 5 that he saw three men try to break into the Muslim-run bakery, but he chased them off.Police believe the crimes were a misguided attempt at retaliation. They said the person responsible believed someone at one of the two targeted locations helped police execute a search warrant recently. That search warrant was served at a local pool hall, and was related to gang activity.Metro police, the ATF and the FBI were on scene Friday morning investigating both crimes, and police said one person has confessed to both firebombings. Authorities were talking to at least two other people in connection with the incidents.