Two mosques in the city of Hawthorne were vandalized Sunday with paint and a fake grenade was left in the driveway of one of the properties, police said, adding that the FBI is helping with the investigation.
The Hawthorne Police Department said it received a report early Sunday that a possible explosive device had been left outside the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus-Salaam Mosque. Officers found a replica of a hand grenade and the word "Jesus" sprayed in white paint on the mosque's metal gate. Later, the department received a second call reporting the phrase "Jesus is the way" had been painted on the Islamic Center of Hawthorne's facade.
Police said the vandalism occurred overnight and that both incidents are consider hate crimes.
Authorities on Friday arrested 23-year-old Carl James Dial Jr. of Palm Desert in connection with a fire at the Islamic Center of Palm Springs. Dial was booked for investigation of commission of a hate crime, arson, maliciously setting a fire and burglary. The fire at the Islamic Center was contained to the small building's front lobby. No one was injured.
end quote from: