US Muslim Man Stabbed near California Mosque

Rasa - A Muslim man was stabbed near a mosque in the US state of California in an apparent hate attack, police said.

News ID: 425706

Date: 12 December 2016 - 17:29

RNA - According to a Police statement published on Monday  a 29-year old from Simi Valley has been arrested and booked on suspicion of involving in the attack, New York Daily news reported.

Authorities said he stabbed a Muslim worshiper near a mosque at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday.

Simi Valley police received multiple reports about people fighting in a shopping center’s parking lot on the 1800 block of Erringer Road, said Sgt. Adam Darough.

The shopping center is located right next door to the mosque.

After officers arrived and separated the people fighting, they discovered that a man at the scene had been stabbed.

Police found the suspect, John Matteson, nearby,  Darough said.

The second suspect was not arrested. Police said they are still investigating his involvement.

Matteson was taken into custody and booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of a hate crime, Darough said.

No other details were provided about the victim, other than he suffered from non-life threatening injuries and is in stable condition.

“We’re investigating whether or not this was instigated by the victim’s appearance and the association with the mosque,” Darough said.

“We’re quite concerned that this occurred. We want to keep people of all faiths safe in the city.”

Matteson is being held at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail, sheriff’s records show. He is due to be arraigned Dec. 13 in Ventura County Superior Court.

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