![\"\"](\".\/media_15d53e86d628ef2b43864e8e852d8ae045a60e474.png?width=750&format=png&optimize=medium\")
<\/p>\nImage<\/p>\n
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Image Credit<\/p>\n
Celal Gunes \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n
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Muslims perform prayer as they mark Laylat al-Raghaib (The night of Prophet Muhammad’s conception) at American Islamic Center near Washington DC, United States on December 25, 2025.<\/p>\n
Image Size<\/p>\n
landscape-medium<\/p>\n
Key Takeaways<\/p>\n
A Pennsylvania mosque was struck by gunfire during the first week of Ramadan, and authorities are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
\n A Utah imam survived a shooting outside his home, and police are reviewing whether bias played a role.
\n In Manchester, a man was arrested after bringing an axe into a mosque during prayers, prompting increased patrols and security measures.<\/p>\n
As Muslims<\/a> around the world observe Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting, nightly prayers, and spiritual reflection, communities in Pennsylvania, Utah, and the United Kingdom are instead grappling with fear after three separate incidents unfolded within days of one another.<\/p>\n Within the first week of the holy month, a mosque was riddled with gunfire, an imam was targeted outside his residence, and worshippers were confronted with a man carrying an axe during Taraweeh prayers. Outside of the directly impacted neighborhoods, the reaction has been relatively quiet \u2014 prompting questions about where the outrage and sense of urgency are.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania mosque shooting investigated as possible hate crime<\/p>\n In Matamoras, Pennsylvania, multiple bullets were fired into the Pike County Islamic Center during the early hours of Sunday (Feb. 22), according to the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department<\/a>. Footage shows bullet holes through doors and windows, damage to a chandelier, and rounds piercing a wooden shoe rack inside the prayer space. No one was inside at the time, and no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n Imam Azzeddine Sarii called the incident a hate crime. \u201cThis is not a civilized act. This is an evil act, and they should be put to justice,\u201d Sarii said, according to News 12<\/a>. Mohammed Alhomsi, a spokesperson for the mosque, said the community is shaken. \u201cIf this [were] earlier by three or four hours, it could\u2019ve been my 8-year-old daughter\u2026 It could\u2019ve been my wife,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. \u201cThis act of violence targeting a house of worship is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,\u201d executive director Ahmet Tekelioglu said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cMosques, like all houses of worship, are sacred spaces meant for peace, prayer, and community. We urge local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and determine whether this attack was motivated by hate. We are grateful for the swift outreach and responsiveness of local and state police, and we stand ready to assist in any way necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n Gov. Josh Shapiro was joined by people of different faiths at the mosque days later, where, on the eighth day of Ramadan, they gathered for iftar \u2014 the evening meal that breaks the daily fast \u2014 in a show of solidarity and support. \u201cViolence<\/a> targeted at our Muslim neighbors is unacceptable, and this attack is particularly painful during the blessed month of Ramadan,\u201d he said in a Facebook<\/a> statement. At the time of reporting, no arrests had been made.<\/p>\n Utah imam survives targeted shooting outside his home<\/p>\n In Sandy, Utah, Imam Shuaib Din, leader of the Utah Islamic Center, was shot at multiple times on Monday night (Feb. 23) while heading out to evening prayers, according to KUTV.<\/a> Din said that a white four-door sedan had been parked outside his home for more than an hour. When he pulled out of his garage, he said the driver exited his vehicle and pointed a gun at him. \u201cI think it was to hurt me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just once, it\u2019s twice, and then eight shots \u2014 all directed at me. It\u2019s by the mercy of God, His protection, that none of those eight bullets hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking with The Salt Lake Tribune<\/a>, the imam said, \u201cObviously, he knew my house, knew my car, knew my schedule.\u201d Police responded to the incident around 7:30 p.m. and are investigating all possible motives, \u201cincluding but not limited to a possible hate crime,\u201d Sgt. Michael Olson said. He added that authorities have reached out and are communicating with the FBI and other federal agencies. Authorities also released images of the car believed to be connected to the shooting and are asking anyone with information or surveillance footage to contact authorities. As of the time of reporting, no arrests have been made.<\/p>\n The Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction and has called for increased protection for the imam and local Muslim community. In a statement posted on its website, the Utah Islamic Center said, \u201cHeightened security measures will be in place at UIC to ensure the safety of all who attend.\u201d<\/p>\n Manchester mosque incident leads to arrest<\/p>\n Across the Atlantic, police were called to Manchester Central Mosque on Tuesday night (Feb. 24) during Taraweeh prayers following reports of a man with an ax, according to The Independent<\/a>. There were about 2,000 worshippers inside at the time, the BBC<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Greater Manchester Police<\/a> confirmed a 55-year-old white man, Darren Connor, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs. A second man was arrested but will face no further action. No one was injured, but officers are increasing patrols in the area.<\/p>\n According to The Independent, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, \u201cI know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection.\u201d He added, \u201cMy thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response. We have provided up to \u00a340 million funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim and community [centers], and will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear.\u201d<\/p>\n While each case remains under investigation and motives have not been formally confirmed in all instances, the timing is hard to ignore. Ramadan is meant to be a month of peace, prayer, and togetherness. Instead, for some Muslim communities, it has begun with police<\/a> tape, patrol cars, and unanswered questions.<\/p>\n For many worshippers, the concern is not just what happened, but why it keeps happening.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Image Image Credit Celal Gunes \/ Anadolu via Getty Images Image Alt Muslims perform prayer as they mark…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":125678,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":{"0":"post-125677","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pennsylvania","8":"tag-pennsylvania","9":"tag-pennsylvania-headlines","10":"tag-pennsylvania-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125677"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125677\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}