Teens arrested for lobbing lemons at California mosque during prayer time

HAYWARD — Four teenagers who police say threw lemons at a local mosque and struck at least one person inside have been arrested on suspicion of vandalism that interferes with civil rights.

It was the fourth time vandals targeted the Hayward mosque during the last eight months, police said.

At about 10 a.m. Friday about 40 congregants had gathered inside the American Muslim Association, at 26320 Gading Road when four male teenagers threw lemons at the building and then ran, said Hayward Police Lt. Roger Keener. At least one person was hit in the arm.

Officers determined four Hayward males, ages 13 to 16 were responsible for the attack, Keener said. The teens were arrested on suspicion of defacing property “interfering with the civil rights of those attending the mosque.”

“We’ve had an ongoing issue of local juveniles harassing some of the mosque’s attendees during prayer time,” Keener said.

Gading Road is known as Hayward’s “church row” because it is home to many places of worship, but the mosque was the only one targeted Friday.

Mercury News, 9 August 2012

See also “4 teens arrested for hate crimes against mosque”, ABC, 9 August 2012