Nov 10, 2005 9:00 am US/Eastern
Charges Filed In Mosque Shooting
by Brandy Bell
LANSDALE, PA (CBS 3) ―
A Montgomery County man stands accused of firing a rifle at parked cars outside a Muslim house of worship.
Robert Blackburn, 53, reportedly fired more than 50 shots at two cars in the parking lot of the North Penn Mosque early Tuesday. Police say a .22-caliber rifle was found in his car and ammunition in his pockets.
"What was it about us in this community? What was it about Islam? What was it about Muslims that caused him to do this damage to the cars?" asked member Kareem Afzal.
Lansdale Police say the Hatfield resident is being charged with ethnic intimidation and related charges. The shooting is being considered a hate crime.
"If we were to talk to him, we would ask him as to what was his motive and why did he do this?" said Shams Huda of the North Penn Mosque.
Huda says this is not the first time the mosque has been vandalized.
"They started soon after, unfortunately, 9-11. But it looks like they are progressing in intensity," he said.
There are four security cameras at the mosque but because of safety concerns further safety measures will be implemented.
Blackburn is held in the Montgomery County Prison with bail set at $50,000 cash.
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