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Man tried to set fire at Muslim Community Center of Portland, police say

Police said they believe the same man broke a large window at a Jewish community center just three days prior to the arson attempt.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police are looking for tips after a man tried to set fire to the Muslim Community Center of Portland's building in North Portland on Tuesday evening. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said the case is being investigated as an arson and possible bias crime.

"It's very hurtful," said Waleed Sadruddin of the Muslim Community Center "And to think someone has that much hate in their heart that they would do this to a community that's long-standing in the Portland metropolitan area while there were individuals from the congregation praying. It's very sad."

Shortly after 6:45 p.m., surveillance cameras captured a man pouring "an undetermined type of accelerant" on the back of the Muslim Community Center building. The suspect lit the accelerant on fire, but flames failed to spread. 

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"After unsuccessfully starting the building on fire, the suspect tried a second time," PPB said. "Fortunately, there was only minor damage to the structure."

The same man is believed to have broken a large window pane at the Eastside Jewish Commons at 2420 Northeast Sandy Boulevard on April 30at about 10:30 p.m., PPB said on Thursday.

"It's disturbing to think there's someone out there targeting Jews and Muslims but it's not a surprise," Katie Schneider of Congregation Shir Tikvah said. "There's a long history of anti-Semitism and anti-Islamic sentiment so you do what you can to protect yourself and keep doing what you do."

Credit: Portland Police Bureau
Broken window at Eastside Jewish Commons on Northeast Sandy Boulevard.

In the case of the attempted arson, the suspect was wearing a blue hoodie and a face mask, carrying a small blue bag and wearing a black backpack. 

The beginning of this week marked the end of the month of Ramadan for followers of the Islamic faith, which culminates in the holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

"I want people to know there are consequences for doing and acting in a way that is counter to our society as a whole," Sadruddin said.

PPB's arson investigators and an investigator from Portland Fire & Rescue are working to gather details on the crime. Anyone with information on the attempted arson or the man pictured is asked to contact Detective Meredith Hopper at 503-823-3408 or Meredith.hopper@portlandoregon.gov.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Report a tip online here.

Credit: Portland Police Bureau

RELATED: 'The bigotry is still alive': Portland synagogue vandalized with threatening hate speech and fire

Earlier this week, staff at Congregation Beth Israel reported that someone had started a fire on the building's exterior doors and spray painted the words "Die Juden" on the side of the building. Police believe it happened sometime between the afternoon of Sunday, May 1, and Monday morning.

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