Suspect in Philly mosque fire showed anti-Islamic views before attack, feds say

A Philadelphia man accused of setting a mosque on fire allegedly commented about a video of the attack on Facebook, leading to a federal charge, the NBC10 Investigators have learned.

Vincent Lang, 60, of Philadelphia, faces a federal charge of maliciously damaging or destroying, or attempting to damage or destroy, by means of fire, any building or property used in interstate commerce, records said.

The July 5 fire at the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center, located in the 1400 block of Tyson Avenue, was targeted in what officials described as an arson attack. In the aftermath, officials said, “a masked individual lit something in a bag and threw it” inside the building.

No one was injured, but officials said “significant damage” was done to the building. A quick-thinking passerby helped prevent the fire from spreading, mosque leadership said.

Video footage gathered from several surveillance cameras on the property showed a man “igniting a suspected improvised incendiary device,” throwing it inside the building, and then leaving, officials said.

Read more: NBC News Philadelphia