PHILADELPHIA, PA — A 60-year-old Philadelphia man has been indicted on federal arson and civil rights charges stemming from a July 5 fire at the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center, a case prosecutors allege was motivated by the religious character of the property.
Vincent Lang was charged with one count of malicious damage by fire to a building used in interstate commerce and one count of damage to religious real property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Lang has been held in federal custody since his July 16 arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant.
The indictment alleges that Lang damaged and attempted to destroy the mosque, located on the 1400 block of Tyson Avenue, by fire in the early hours of July 5.
Federal prosecutors further allege that Lang targeted the property because it was a mosque.
“We will not let anyone attack a place of faith,” U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said. “This case demonstrates our resolve to protect our core constitutional liberty of religion.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the Justice Department would “vigorously protect Americans’ right to be free from intimidation and violence while practicing their religion.”
The civil rights charge adds a federal bias-related element to the prosecution, while the arson count addresses the alleged use of fire against property used in interstate commerce.
If convicted, Lang faces a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years, according to prosecutors.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office Special Investigations Unit and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and J. Jeanette Kang and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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