Mosque Leaders Heighten Security Measures After Wave of Vandalism Attacks in Texas and California

Muslim community leaders in Austin and Los Angeles are increasing protective measures at sacred spaces following separate incidents of graffiti vandalism that targeted at least four mosques in May 2025, marking the latest escalation in a troubling pattern of anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.

Muslim leaders across Texas and California have implemented heightened security protocols at mosques following a series of vandalism incidents that targeted Islamic centers in Austin and Los Angeles during May 2025. The coordinated attacks, which occurred nearly simultaneously in both states, have prompted increased security measures, including overnight guards, enhanced surveillance systems, and expanded police patrols, as community leaders warn of an escalating pattern of anti-Muslim hate incidents linked to rising tensions over the conflict in Gaza.

The vandalism spree has affected at least four mosques across both states, with security footage capturing perpetrators spray-painting religious symbols and inflammatory messages on mosque property during overnight hours. These incidents represent the latest manifestation of what civil rights organizations describe as a nationwide surge in anti-Muslim sentiment that has intensified since October 2023.

Austin Attack, Three Mosques Targeted in a Single Night

On the evening of May 22, 2025, three Austin-area mosques were vandalized in what authorities and community leaders characterized as a coordinated hate crime spree. Security footage from the Nueces Mosque in North Austin captured a suspect with a covered face spray-painting what appeared to be Star of David symbols on the facility's main entrance, porch doors, imam's office, and surrounding fencing around 11:30 p.m.

Similar acts of vandalism were discovered at the Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association near the University of Texas at Austin and the Turkish Diyanet Center on McNeil Road during the same timeframe. The incidents affected facilities that collectively serve more than 60,000 practicing Muslims across Central Texas, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin).

"It's so sad and very scary," said Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin operations manager, according to the Los Angeles Times. "It's a shame. It's a shame to target worship places". Zayan emphasized the broader community impact, noting that "hundreds of Muslims already saw these, you know, symbols on our facilities, so it was really disturbing for them".

"It's not only worship places for us, it's community centers. So it affects everyone."
— Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, to News4SanAntonio

California Incident, Los Angeles Mosque Also Targeted

Less than two weeks before the Austin incidents, vandals struck the Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles, spray-painting graffiti including the Star of David on an outer wall of the facility. Center spokesperson Omar Ricci, who also serves as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, described the emotional impact of the incident on the community.

"In light of what's going on within Palestine and the genocide in Gaza, it felt like an attack," Ricci told Arab News. The Los Angeles Police Department opened both a vandalism and hate crime investigation, adding extra patrols around the facility, though authorities noted they have neither identified a suspect nor established a clear motive.

The LAPD also acknowledged that nonreligious spaces were targeted in the area, though the specific nature of these additional incidents was not detailed in police reports.

Security Measures Escalate Across Facilities

In response to the attacks, mosque leaders have implemented comprehensive security upgrades across their facilities. The Nueces Mosque, which had previously experienced three separate hate incidents in 2024, including someone throwing rocks at the building, has now added overnight security personnel to complement its existing enhanced surveillance camera system.

CAIR-Austin has called for increased security patrols and protective measures across all Islamic centers in the region, describing the vandalism as part of "a disturbing pattern of hate-motivated incidents". The organization serves as an advocate for more than two dozen mosques across Central Texas.

Zayan characterized the incidents as deliberate intimidation attempts, telling media outlets that the community views the coordinated nature of the attacks as particularly concerning. The Austin Police Department has initiated directed patrols at all mosque locations, though the department did not respond to Associated Press inquiries about the ongoing investigation.

"I've seen an increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiment since October 2023."
— Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, to News4SanAntonio

Context of Rising Anti-Muslim Incidents

The mosque vandalism incidents occur against a backdrop of documented increases in anti-Muslim hate crimes and incidents nationwide. CAIR documented 8,658 discrimination complaints in 2024, representing the highest number since the organization began tracking such data in 1996. The organization specifically noted 40 documented attacks or threats against mosques in 2024.

Community leaders have directly linked the recent surge in incidents to escalating tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Zayan noted a marked increase in "Islamophobia, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment since October 2023," with the Nueces Mosque alone reporting four separate hate incidents since last fall.

The Texas incidents also come amid broader state-level scrutiny of Muslim communities. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into a proposed Muslim community development project in Josephine, Texas, while Governor Greg Abbott has made statements about "Sharia cities" without providing evidence.

Law Enforcement Response and Investigation Status

While both the Austin Police Department and the LAPD have acknowledged the incidents and initiated investigations, specific details about suspects or potential charges remain limited. The Austin Police Department did not respond to media inquiries about the investigation's progress, although officials confirmed that increased patrols would be maintained around all mosque facilities.

The Los Angeles Police Department has classified its investigation as both a vandalism and hate crime case, though authorities emphasized that they have not identified suspects or established clear motives. The FBI's involvement in similar cases nationwide suggests federal authorities may monitor these incidents for potential civil rights violations.

The coordinated nature of the attacks and their timing has raised questions among community leaders about potential connections between the incidents, though law enforcement has not publicly indicated whether they are treating the Texas and California cases as related.

Community Response and Ongoing Concerns

Muslim community leaders emphasize that these facilities serve functions beyond religious worship, operating as community centers that provide educational, social, and cultural services to tens of thousands of residents. The attacks have therefore affected not only religious practice but also broader community activities and programming.

The incidents have prompted discussions about the balance between maintaining open, welcoming religious spaces and ensuring adequate security for worshippers and community members. Some facilities have invested thousands of dollars in security upgrades, while others are working with federal authorities to assess their protective measures.

As investigations continue and security measures expand, Muslim community leaders remain focused on maintaining their facilities' role as centers of worship and community gathering while adapting to an environment of heightened security concerns. The outcome of ongoing investigations and the effectiveness of enhanced security measures will likely influence how Islamic communities nationwide approach facility safety in the months ahead.