© St. Lucie County Sheriff’s OfficeThe St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said surveillance video shows someone approaching the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce moments before a flash was seen and the fire started early today.
"Evidence has revealed that this fire was set intentionally," St. Lucie County Sheriff's Major David Thompson told reporters.
A 911 call about 12:30 a.m. alerted authorities that flames were coming out of Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, 1104 W. Midway Road.
There were no injuries reported and the extent of the damage has not yet been determined.
According to Thompson, investigators were able to find surveillance video that shows someone approaching the east side of the Islamic Center.
"Immediately after the individual approached, a flash occurred and the individual fled the area," he said.
He said the sheriff's office is asking the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to join the investigation currently underway by local authorities and the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Additionally, technicians are working to enhance the surveillance video so it can be released to the public in order to turn up leads in the case.
Mateen, who lived in Fort Pierce, killed 49 people at Orlando's Pulse nightclub in June and was known to worship at the mosque. Mateen was killed in a shootout with police.
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Leaders at the Islamic Center have said that since the nightclub shooting the facility has received threats and that security had been stepped up.
Thompson said he did not know if there was any connection between the blaze and the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
"It has been peaceful here," he said. "We have had open and clear communication with the folks at the Islamic Center, and we have received no recent threats.
"A fire at any place of worship is alarming," Thompson said, "regardless of the circumstances."
In a statement posted to its Facebook page about 8 a.m. Monday, the Fort Pierce Islamic Center said, "It is with a very heavy heart that we have to announce that last night around midnight, there was an arson attack on our Mosque."
The statement advised those planning to attend the Eid Prayer to go to another Fort Pierce mosque.
"Please keep us in your Du'as and prayers," the statement concluded. Du'as is defined as invocation or act of supplication.
Monday is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the four-day Islamic festival of sacrifice. Because of the extra traffic that was anticipated, Thompson said sheriff's deputies were scheduled to be on hand to assist with parking and traffic flow.
"This is a terrible tragedy, not only for the Islamic Center, but for our community," he said.
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