Durham mosque is vandalized

The reinforced glass doors to Durham's largest mosque were smashed earlier this week and two computer monitors and a printer were stolen, mosque leaders said.

This is the third violent incident at the Jaamat Ibad Ar-Rahman on Fayetteville Street near N.C. Central University campus. Earlier this summer windows and doors were also smashed. Six months ago some rocks were hurled at the mosque by two men who shouted slogans such as "go to hell."

Mosque leaders said they first noticed the damage when worshipers came for early morning prayers on Monday. The mosque is within several hundred yards of a police substation on Fayetteville Street, and mosque leaders said they wanted the police to investigate and offer beefed up patrols.

Mosque leaders said they don't think this is a mere theft.

"It's very obvious they weren't stealing things for money," said Iqbal Ahmad who is in charge of maintenance at the mosque. "A burglar doesn't break all the windows and doors."

The mosque is where Daniel Boyd of Johnston County and his family worshiped most recently. Boyd and two of his sons were indicted in late July on terrorism charges and are awaiting trial.

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