The Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has sent out information about an attempted arson at a mosque in Portland. The incident happened on Tuesday night. Also, Congregation Beth Israel in Northwest Portland reported vandalism on the synagogue’s property on Monday. Fire and an antisemitic message were painted on an exterior wall.
The Muslim community is being informed that at around 6:45 p.m. on May 3, surveillance cameras caught a person pouring some type of liquid on the back of the Muslim Community Center of Portland’s building. It is located on North Vancouver Avenue. The person tried to light a fire repeatedly.
Not too similar, a small fire was started outside of Congregation Beth Israel. The person also wrote an antisemitic message with pray paint. There was only minor damage to the structure. Leaders are saying that the incidents were deeply disturbing and a reminder that hate and bigotry continue to pose a genuine threat.
A Rabbi said the Portland Police Bureau was notified as well as the FBI about the attack on the historic Jewish congregation, established in 1858.
According to data collected by the Oregon Department of Justice, there was a 34% increase in the number of hate crimes reported to the state between 2020 and 2021. A majority of those took place in Multnomah County. So far in 2022, the state has received 270 total reports of hate and bias crimes.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen something to report it. Other organizations are offering awards. PPB’s Arson Investigator and a Portland Fire & Rescue Investigator are working together to investigate this crime.
