KENDALL, Fla. – Police are investigating after someone left a cross with American flag sunglasses on top of a donation box at a mosque in Kendall this week.
This is the third vandalism incident reported within the last two weeks, Islamic School of Miami President Naveed Anjum said.
"All my friends come here," a 14-year-old boy told Local 10 News reporter Hatzel Vela. "We all hang out, and we're here a lot so you know anytime he could come in and do something."
Anjum said congregants are especially concerned about the incidents because the facility also serves as a day care in the morning hours.
"The Muslim community has witnessed a series of attacks at this facility, including a box filled with wires, metal pieces and a cutter (left at the facility), pieces of clothing with (an) American flag and finally a big wooden cross inside the prayer hall on top of the donation box," Anjum said.
"The U.S. Department of Justice and our local law enforcement partners take all potential threats and acts of intimidation against places of worship seriously, and we will work vigilantly to protect these institutions in our community," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement Thursday night.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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