Authorities are investigating after a bullet was fired into the Islamic Community Center of Hillsboro over the weekend, raising concerns about a potential bias-motivated incident.
According to officials in Washington County, the gunfire occurred late Saturday morning when a bullet penetrated the exterior wall of the mosque and lodged into an interior column. No injuries were reported, as no one was in the immediate area at the time.
The Hillsboro Police Department has launched an investigation, though authorities have not yet confirmed whether the case is officially being treated as a hate crime.
However, leaders at the mosque indicated in a community update that the incident is being approached as a possible bias-related act. Security cameras reportedly captured audio of the gunshot around 11:22 a.m., but the bullet was not discovered until later in the day when children returning for evening prayers found it.
The shooting occurred just one day after Eid al-Fitr, a major Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Mosque officials noted that the prayer space is typically filled with families and children for weekend religious classes, and said the outcome could have been far worse had the building been occupied.
Community leaders have called for a thorough investigation and are working with local and state officials, including the Oregon Department of Justice. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also urged federal authorities to examine whether the shooting was motivated by religious bias.
Local officials, including county leadership, condemned the incident and emphasized the importance of ensuring safety in places of worship.
“No one should feel unsafe in their place of prayer,” officials said, reaffirming their commitment to protecting community members and promoting unity.
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