Sheriff’s Office Releases Pictures Of Mosque Fire Suspect

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for the person they say set fire to the New Tampa mosque Masjid Daarus Salaam, and released pictures from surveillance video Tuesday morning.

The video, recorded at approximately 2 a.m. on Feb. 24, captured a male subject entering the property of The Islamic Society of New Tampa on Morris Bridge Rd. just north of Cross Creek Blvd., on foot.

The subject. according to the HCSO, was carrying a large container and rope.  The subject moved to an exterior entry door located on the northeast side of the Mosque, where he fashioned the rope as a trailer to
the large container.

He was then seen attempting to ignite the rope, which was sprayed with an ignitable liquid accelerant and apparently set to act as a fuse. After the rope failed to sustain fire, the subject poured a trail of what appeared to be an ignitable liquid accelerant on the sidewalk and successfully ignited the sidewalk.

The fire, however, failed to effectively ignite the large container.  The subject then moved out of view of the camera. He was able to successfully ignite the large ignitable liquid accelerant container, which in turn caused damage to the Mosque.

The subject then fled toward Morris Bridge Rd. undetected.  Laboratory results confirmed gasoline was present at the fire scene.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the HCSO at 813-247-8200, or anyone with any information regarding the identity and whereabouts of the suspect and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the HCSO P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones, iPads and Droids.

You must call Crime Stoppers first to be eligible for a reward.

 

Bilirakis Office In Wesley Chapel Now Open

U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (photo) has opened a district office in Wesley Chapel. Bilirakis represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which covers northern Pasco and Pinellas counties.

The office is available to serve as a resource for constituents seeking assistance with a federal agency, those who have questions about federal (not State of Florida) legislation, or people who would like to meet with the Congressman and/or a member of his staff. The office is located at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., inside the same building that is home to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC).

Bilirakis’ Wesley Chapel office is open every Wednesday and by appointment the rest of the week. Constituents interested in attending office hours should call ahead to confirm a time at (727) 232-2921.

“I’m proud to announce the opening of my new office space in Wesley Chapel,” Rep. Bilirakis says. “Here, my team and I will be able to better serve the people of central and east Pasco, and make sure we are accessible to all parts of Florida’s 12th District. The Wesley Chapel office is ready to assist you, and I encourage local residents to come by and say hello.”