Suspicious Houston Mosque Fire

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ATF: Christmas mosque fire in Houston is ‘suspicious’ - Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) say a fire that started inside of a Houston mosque Friday appears to be suspicious.

Special Agent Nicole Strong of the ATF’s Houston Field Division told CNN the fire at the Islamic Center of Houston had “multiple points of origin” and “appears suspicious.”

But she also said it was also “too soon to [determine the] cause and origin” of the fire. Authorities said they will turn to surveillance cameras to try to determine the fire's cause.

The fire began shortly after afternoon prayer, during which the place was “pretty much empty,” center president M.J. Khan told CNN.

No injuries were reported in the two-alarm fire, which required about 80 firefighters to put out.

Heavy smoke from the inferno caused damage to other businesses in the shopping center where the mosque is located.

Khan said worship will be moved to a new location. “We are hoping it was an accident,” he said.