Fire at Islamic Center in Houston

Fire officials said a fire at an Islamic community and education center in southeast Houston, Texas, could have been arson and the Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for an investigation into whether it was a hate crime, the local ABC news affiliate reported on Friday. Officials said an accelerant was used in the fire that engulfed the Quba Islamic Institute early Friday morning, suggesting it was deliberately set. The assistant imam said someone had driven by the night before and screamed mocking chants, and earlier this week, a masked man was seen "lurking" around the property. No one was injured in the fire, but a building at the back of the institute used to store books and furniture was destroyed.