Vandals Throw Pig Legs At Site Of Proposed Mosque

ONTARIO (CBS/AP) — A Muslim civil rights group says vandals threw pigs' legs at the site of proposed Southern California mosque and they want federal officials to investigate.

The Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says that on Tuesday night two women in a pickup truck threw three pig's legs in the driveway of an Ontario home where Muslims worship.

"There were about two dozen Muslims here praying that evening. At around 10 o'clock, two women came here, threw three pig legs onto the driveway and then drove away in a white pick-up truck," said Munira Syeda of CAIR.

Pigs are considered unclean by practicing Muslims, who say the vandalism is particularly offensive because it's the holy month of Ramadan.

"Whoever the perpetrator is they clearly wanted to send a message that was full of bigotry and hate toward the Muslim community," Syeda added.

Bobby Kaple, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, said a heated debate has been brewing as to whether to build the mosque on the site.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating. No arrests have been made.

The council is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to open a hate-crime investigation. Los Angeles U.S. attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek says no probe has been started pending further review.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)