Windows shattered at Cedar Rapids mosque by vandals

Vandals busted five windows at a Cedar Rapids mosque overnight, police said.

Nothing was missing from the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids, 2999 First Ave. SW, when the damage was discovered early Tuesday. It happened sometime between 10:30 p.m. Monday and 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, when members started arriving for a prayer service, police said.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said vandals used large rocks and other blunt objects to break an office window, two windows by the entryway and two glass doors. The damage was estimated at $3,000.

“It doesn't look like (the vandals) went into the building,” Hamblin said.

Police were determining whether any possible surveillance caught the vandalism. Hamblin said an automatic alarm at the facility did not activate, but the reason why was not described in the police report.