Suspect Defiles Brooklyn Mosque with Quran Pages, Feces

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Police in Brooklyn are investigating a hate crime incident that occurred earlier this month at the Islamic Mission of America mosque, where a suspect allegedly threw pages from the Quran on the front steps and smeared an unknown substance, later identified as feces, on the building's door. The incident is being treated as a bias crime, and authorities have released a surveillance photo of the suspect in an effort to identify and apprehend him.

Why it matters

This incident reflects a concerning rise in hate crimes targeting religious institutions and minority communities in New York City. While overall crime rates have decreased in the precinct, hate crimes have spiked, mirroring a citywide trend. The desecration of a sacred religious space is a serious offense that can have a profound impact on the targeted community.

The details

According to police, the incident unfolded on March 9 around 4:30 a.m. outside the Islamic Mission of America mosque in Brooklyn Heights. The suspect approached the building and threw pages from the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, on the front steps. He then briefly left the scene, only to return and smear an unknown substance, later identified as feces, on the mosque's door. The incident was reported to the 84th Precinct and is now being investigated as a hate crime, though no arrests have been made and the suspect remains at large.

• The incident occurred on Monday, March 9, 2026, around 4:30 a.m.
• Police released a surveillance photo of the suspect on March 28, 2026.

What’s next

Police are actively searching for the suspect and urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for this hate crime.