Suspects in mosque mayhem case

Two vandalism suspects are under investigation by local police after being caught by volunteer members of the congregation at Mukalah-al Mukarrammah mosque last Friday at dawn.

"Two people are suspected, and it's under investigation," said police station 3 community relations officer Dominique Grenier, adding she could not reveal more information for the moment.

The mosque on Gouin Boulevard in Pierrefonds/Roxboro borough has found itself the victim of four different vandalism acts, the latest one occurring at the end of May. "We've been vigilant there almost every night," said Mohammed Lawal, an executive member of the mosque's council.

After gearing up for security with video cameras and contacting police, Lawal said the congregation decided it would also guard the premises at night. "If you don't do it, nobody will do it," he said. Knowing that police is too busy to guard the place of worship 24 hours a day, members of the community volunteered to keep watch over the place in different shifts at night, until early dawn everyday.

It was last Friday at about 2 a.m. that two suspects were caught, with paintball guns in their hands. "I wasn't there when it happened," Lawal said. "I had been on the earlier shift," he added. However, he was woken up by the volunteers who did catch the suspects and came over. Police turned up as well to arrest the suspects.

"We really want to get to the bottom of it," Lawal said, adding it is not even clear if the two underage suspects are behind any or all the previous attacks, or if they acted completely on their own.

Overnight on June 19, another mosque in Dorval, Dorval Mosque, was spray-painted with graffiti. It is not known if this act of vandalism is related to the ones at Mukalah-al Mukarrammah.

Chronicle, Raffy Boudjikanian