A woman faces institutional vandalism and desecration charges after Philadelphia police said she ripped apart Islamic holy books and vandalized a mosque after refusing to leave.
Police officers responded to the vandalism at the Islamic Society of Greater Philadelphia along Roosevelt Boulevard, near Cottman Avenue, around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, police said.
A woman refused to leave the Masjid Al-Furqan mosque despite being asked to go several times, police said.
The woman -- later identified as 28-year-old Sarah Khatab -- was tearing apart unspecified holy books and broke the front door window with a cane, police said.
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Police arrested Khatab and charged her with institutional vandalism, trespass, desecrating objects and harassment.
Khatab's bail was set at $25,000, according to online court records that don't name an attorney who could comment on her behalf.
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