Elham Asaad Buaras
Police and civil rights groups investigate shooting at Pennsylvania mosque as potential hate crime.
Authorities and civil rights groups are investigating an early-morning shooting at a Pennsylvania mosque as a potential hate crime after multiple rounds were fired into the building during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Eastern Pike Regional Police Department confirmed that between midnight and 1 a.m. on February 22, three to four shots were fired into the Pike County Islamic Centre on Mountain Avenue in Matamoras.
While the building was closed and no injuries were reported, police noted that bullets penetrated doors, fixtures, and internal walls before being recovered for forensic analysis.
Police Chief Chad Stewart stated that the surrounding neighbourhood has been canvassed for evidence, noting that the centre is not a 24-hour facility.
The targeted assault has left the local congregation in a state of shock and unease. Board member Jim Abdulrahaman described visible bullet holes through windows and damage to a chandelier, suggesting the perpetrator may have used a back road adjacent to the building to carry out the attack under the cover of darkness. “If they were here, they would’ve gotten five or six ladies,” he remarked.
Imam Azzeddine Sarii condemned the shooting as “not a civilized act,” while spokesperson Mohammed Alhomsi, who had been worshipping at the mosque with his family only hours before the incident, expressed the personal terror felt by the community. “If this was earlier by three or four hours, it could’ve been my eight-year-old daughter… it could’ve been my wife,” he said, adding that despite the fear, the congregation remains steadfast.
State and local law enforcement are treating the inquiry as a potential bias-motivated crime, with Pennsylvania State Police assisting local officers. Although no suspects have yet been identified, Matamoras Borough Mayor Cory Homer pledged a transparent investigation, asserting that the community stands united against “hate and fear” and that such acts of violence have no place in the borough.
The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philly) has called for a rigorous hate crime investigation and offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. Ahmet Tekelioglu, the chapter’s executive director, described the targeting of a house of worship as “deeply disturbing” and “unacceptable.”
National representatives from CAIR also highlighted a worrying pattern of anti-mosque incidents across Pennsylvania over the last decade, including threats and arson in areas such as Philadelphia and Norristown, noting a broader rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined the condemnation, describing the violence as particularly painful occurring during Ramadan. In a show of solidarity, the Governor attended a fast-breaking meal with the local community at the Pike County Islamic Centre on February 25. “The vandalism of a house of worship of any kind has no place in Pennsylvania,” he wrote in a public statement.
“No matter who you pray to, I want you to know you have a home here.” Authorities have reiterated that the investigation remains active, with the identification of a motive and the apprehension of suspects remaining a top priority.
Feature photo: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro visits the Pike County Islamic Center in Westfall Township on February 25 to show support following the early morning shooting on February 22. No one was inside at the time. (Credit: Office of Governor Shapiro)
