Police Investigating Vandalism of Dearborn Mosque

are investigating several incidents of possible anti-Muslim vandalism in the city, according to a press release sent out Tuesday by the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

According to CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, the , located on Chase Road north of Ford Road, was targeted in the spray-painting, as well as a building nearby on Chase that is soon to be opened as a restaurant.

Both buildings were tagged with the words "Chaldean Mob" or "MB."

Walid said the names are related to the Chaldean Mafia, a group that was notorious for drug trafficking in the Detroit area in the 1980s and '90s. However, any specific ties to that group have not been established in this case.

Also still undetermined is whether the vandalism was motivated by ethnic or racial bias. However, said Walid, "It should be investigated with the potential to be a hate crime."

The incidents in Dearborn follow a case of vandalism of a Sikh house of worship earlier this month in Sterling Heights.

Though there's no indication that the cases are related, Walid said it's enough to cause worry.

"We’re asking all mosques to take extra security precautions," he said. "It’s a sad commentary on our society that there are (people) who would desecrate houses of worship. It seems that nothing is sacred these days."

CAIR-MI put out a request to community members to call police with any information on the incidents.

"There’s a lot of traffic in that area, so someone must’ve seen something. I’m hoping that if someone saw any individuals they would immediately call the Dearborn police."

Walid said that he had spoken with Dearborn Chief of Police Ronald Haddad, who confirmed that the department is investigating the vandalism.

Chief Haddad was not immediately available for comment on the case.

Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to contact the Dearborn Police Tip Line at 313-943-3030.