July 31, 2026 Security Bulletin:
Online Calls to Burn Mosques Lead to Mosque Arson
Overall Assessment
We assess that the threat of physical attacks against Muslims is ELEVATED. This assessment is informed by a recent increase in arson attacks targeting mosques, as well as the spread of false narratives alleging that Muslims are responsible for burning churches. The circulation of this conspiracy theory may contribute to anti-Muslim hostility by prompting individuals to target Muslims in acts of retaliation.
Note: These incidents only represent threats/attacks that have been reported in the United States. The majority of hate crimes against Muslims are never reported, therefore the true number of hate crimes is likely much higher. We encourage everyone to report every incident, regardless of its size or severity.
The Muslims Burning Churches Conspiracy
An emerging conspiracy theory claims that Muslims have been setting churches on fire. One Facebook post featured a collage of North American church fires, but falsely labeled them as arson attacks carried out by Muslims in Europe. The post stated, "Multiculturalism in Europe. Muslims are burning down the Churches & historic buildings all over Europe. This is what diversity looks like.” The Australian Associated Press debunked these claims and said there is “no evidence that Muslim people were connected to any of the incidents.” In fact, none of the 15 churches shown in the collage were located in Europe.
Similar posts have circulated online. False claims portraying Muslims as perpetrators of attacks on Christian institutions can fuel anti-Muslim sentiment, increase the likelihood of retaliatory violence, and potentially encourage additional arson attacks.
Mosque Arsons Reach the United States
On Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 2:15 am the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center faced an arson attack. On July 16, 2026, the Department of Justice arrested the perpetrator, Vincent Lang, who was charged by criminal complaint. This incident comes amid a broader pattern of arson attacks and bomb threats targeting Muslim communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The emergence of similar tactics against Muslim institutions in the United States underscores the need for heightened vigilance and safety precautions.
7/5/26- Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center Damaged in Arson
Islamophobic Provocateur Jake Lang Announces Anti-Mamdani March
Far right activist Jake Lang, who took part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will be leading a “March on Mamdani" in New York City with Pastor James and Christian Crusaders on September 11, 2026. Lang has been banned from the state of Texas after making a terroristic threat to kill Karmelo Anthony.
MPAC Briefs Mosque Leaders at UMMAH NY
On July 16, 2026, MPAC briefed mosque leaders at a leadership forum hosted by UMMAH NY on mosque security, public policy engagement, and the national anti-Muslim threat landscape as New York has experienced the highest number of threats and attacks this year. MPAC’s presentation provided statistics, security resources, policy information, and partnership opportunities for Muslim organizations. If you would like MPAC to come to your community and brief you on the state of hate against Muslims in America, provide safety recommendations, or discuss the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, please reach out to [email protected].
Arson Specific Security Checklist
Ensure all fire extinguishers are inspected and serviced regularly.
Develop or review the arson security plan.
Improve exterior and interior lighting: Install lighting around the building exterior and motion-activated lighting near entrances.
Maintain street visibility: Trim shrubs and remove excess vegetation or other obstructions that limit visibility from the street.
Install smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system.
Keep doors locked: Equip exterior doors with code-compliant locking hardware and secure them when the facility isn't occupied.
Control key and alarm access: Limit and track who has building keys and alarm codes.
Keep windows locked: Use window hardware with spring-loaded bolts that insert through the window frame into the wall frame.
Remove combustible materials: Remove unnecessary paper, trash, cleaning supplies, paint cans and flammable materials from inside the building that could fuel a fire for an arsonist.
Post a visible fire evacuation plan.
Check for damaged electrical cords and overloaded extension cords or outlets.
Secure hazardous materials: Store poisons, cleaners, matches, lighters, and other hazardous items in locked cabinets.
Work with the local police department to identify security weaknesses.
MPAC-CSTP Incident Tracker
MPAC-CSTP will continue to closely monitor developments and provide updates as needed. We encourage you to report any incident through the link below.
Why should you share incidents? For example, if an individual leaves a message to attack a mosque, we can use artificial intelligence tools to compare voice patterns with other security incident reports to identify whether the same individual is involved and possibly assist with identification efforts.