12-21-2005, 07:42 PM
http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http...en.asp?url=pive
CINCINNATI -- Police and the FBI were investigating an explosion near a mosque late Tuesday, about two hours after evening prayers had ended.
No injuries were reported and police hadn't found any witnesses, Capt. Gene Hamann said.
Streets around the mosque were closed as investigators searched the area with bomb-sniffing dogs, but no other explosives had been found.
The scene included a two-story brick house owned by the Islamic Association of Cincinnati and an attached worship center that opened about two years ago, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
The explosion apparently occurred on a porch at the house, which formerly served as the mosque, and damaged a door, the newspaper said.
The mosque closed about 8 p.m. Tuesday. Police received a call about 10:10 p.m. from someone who heard the explosion from about five blocks away.
The phone number for the Islamic Association of Cincinnati was busy.
Special agent Mike Brooks, spokesman for the FBI in Cincinnati, confirmed the FBI is involved in the investigation, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cincinnati police and fire departments and the State Highway Patrol.
Brooks declined to say whether it had been established that the explosion was caused by a bomb.
The mosque, about a mile from the University of Cincinnati campus, is located near several churches and Hebrew Union College.
Imtiaz Ahmad, 48, who worships at the mosque, told the Enquirer it has had no problems since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
About 300 to 500 people worship at the mosque on a typical Friday, said Karen Dabdoub, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Cincinnati.
"This is very disturbing," she said. "And not only for this mosque and our community, but for the Islamic community in and around Greater Cincinnati."