$2,000 reward offered in search for arsonist who torched Brentwood Islamic center flag

Police are searching for the arsonist who set a religious flag on fire at the Islamic center in Brentwood Monday.

Abutalib Aqueel, of the Islamic Center of Suffolk County, found the vandalism Monday night. He says the flag was burnt and there was graffiti.

Worshipers say when they left on Saturday everything was fine but when they came back there was a hole in the fence.

"We came out and we found that somebody had burned our flag. It's like a religious symbol," says Aqueel.

Aqueel says crews will clean up the graffiti. He says it it's not the first time something like this has happened.

"It's actually the fourth or fifth time it's happened to us," says Aqueel.

Aqueel says this time was worse because it involved fire, which makes the community very concerned.

Surveillance video turned over to police shows two people on the property. Acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron is disappointed by what he's seen.

"During the pandemic I really thought that we're all in this together," says Cameron. "We're all facing this peril together but in many cases it's been very divisive."

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIP.