Overview
- Derogatory graffiti was spray-painted on a banner at the Islamic Center of Shirley‑Mastic construction site and Suffolk County police say the county's hate-crimes unit is investigating.
- The Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit is leading the probe and officials have not announced any arrests.
- County Executive Ed Romaine and local lawmakers publicly condemned the vandalism and urged residents to report tips to SCPD Crime Stoppers.
- Mosque leaders said construction of the 34,000‑square‑foot center will continue and that the facility will offer community amenities such as a basketball court, food pantry and space designed to serve as a storm shelter.
- The New York chapter of CAIR cited a recent rise in incidents targeting Islamic sites and called for a full determination on whether the act meets hate‑crime criteria, a decision that could affect potential charges and community relations.