A man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire at a mosque in Philadelphia last week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday.
Vincent Lang, 60, of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged with maliciously damaging or destroying by means of fire any building or property used in interstate commerce, or attempting to do so. The U.S. Department of Justice stated in a release that the charge relates to an arson fire at a city mosque that occurred last week.
According to the criminal complaint, Lang approached the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center on July 5, ignited an improvised incendiary device, and hurled it into the mosque's entryway, igniting a fire within the building. If convicted, Lang faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of five years' imprisonment, the DOJ indicated.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which the DOJ stated occurred in the early hours of July 5. A representative for Lang was unavailable for comment.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of increased Islamophobia noted by U.S. rights advocates, particularly in the decades following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Recent factors contributing to this trend include anti-immigration policies, white supremacy, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
