An Islamic group is pointing to online posts encouraging individuals to toss Molotov cocktails into mosques in the wake of a wave of attacks in New York City on Sunday night that appeared to be aimed at Muslims.
Police are probing four attacks in Queens, involving Molotov cocktails construsted with Starbucks Frappuccino bottles against four locations, including a mosque and a Hindu place of worship. About 75 people were in the mosque at the time of that attack but there were no injuries. Police say the male suspect was driving a silver sport utility vehicle.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) suggested in a press release that the attacks could have been connected to posts on an anti-Muslim blog.
“What’s all this pussy-footing??? Throw 10 Molotov cocktails into these mosques and burn them down even with a**-lifters in them, especially with a**-lifters in them,” read a post on the blog Bare Naked Islam.
“Bomb the things to the ground, THEN burn them,” wrote “GrouchyFogie.” “THAT’S not an attack,” wrote “Burnerjack.” “An attack is boarding the doors while the mosque is full and then fire bombing it. THAT’S an attack. I’m just saying.”
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