SACRAMENTO, Calif.
--
Investigators said are looking for an arsonist who set a fire outside a Sacramento area mosque.
The federal government has moved to seize Islamic Center. Meanwhile, worshippers said they are being unfairly attacked.
Kept out for three days, worshippers were anxious to return to the Carmichael Islamic Center to pray, but instead they were greeted by ashes.
"It could be an act of hate or racism it is possible," said Yusub Ali Muhammad, with the Carmichael Islamic Center.
Arson investigators said are trying to piece together just who set a fire and torched an envelope tapped on this fence by the department of justice.
"We are as much American, as much patriot as anybody else," said worshipper Sayed Asghar.
Fire officials said a motive is still unclear.
"It is terrible. I don't agree with lighting fire on anything, any deliberately set fires are not OK whether it is for hate, for profit, or whether it is to get your jollies," said Christian Pebbles with Metro Fire.
Worshippers said they believe they were targeted because they've been put in the spotlight by federal prosecutors who have moved to seize the center which is owned by Alavi, a New York-based foundation accused of funneling money to Iran.
"Yeah we are using their building, but we have really no association with them," said Sunday school teacher Rukh Zahra.
Teachers and 60 students who came to Sunday school today, hope the violence doesn't escalate.
"I would be concerned that it could get worse," said Muhammad.
With the FBI approval 40 Sacramento families were encouraged to continue using the facility as planned.
"Make sure people see the good face of Islam," Zahra said.
Teachers used this Sunday school lesson to teach children the importance of educating their friends and neighbors.
"I think they should know that we are actually all about peace," said Zahra.
"Who ever did this we want to be able to find them and we want them to be able to put them in jail," Pebbles said.
Family prayer service will continue here at the mosque as planned, but mosque officials have asked the sheriff's department to provide extra patrols.
Fire investigators still don't know what legal document by the department of justice was set on fire. Mosque officials said they plan to find out when they call with the Sacramento Department of Justice Office on Monday.
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