A Bellevue mosque that is awaiting reconstruction after a January 2017 arson caught fire again Wednesday. At least one mosque elder doesn't think this one was an accident either.
The Islamic Center of Eastside is located at 14700 Main Street, across the street from Bellevue Highlands Park.
“It happened again after one year now,” said Omer Lone, a mosque elder.
There was significant fire damage to much of the vacant building, which did not have power or natural gas. The cause of Wednesday's fire was not immediately known.
A $1,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest and charges or a grand jury indictment against a person responsible for starting the fire.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation.
The mosque was set on fire in January 2017, destroying about half the building. Isaac Wayne Wilson pleaded guilty to reckless burning. Charging documents said Wilson, who has an extensive history of mental illness and property damage, was found in a parking lot behind the mosque, staring at the fire.
Wilson was released at the beginning of March after serving his sentence for the 2017 arson. He was taken into custody in Kirkland on Thursday morning after failing to report to his community corrections officer.
According to the Islamic Center of Eastside website, the center is currently preparing a final application package for construction work on the building. Mosque elders hoped for construction to start in the fall.
“And everybody was just waiting, wishing for that new mosque to be started and we never thought that this would happen again,” said Lone.
Lone said he believed the fire was no accident.
“There’s no possibility of anything happening inside because there was no electricity, there was no person inside,” he said.
If you have video of the fire or information about the cause of the fire, contact the Bellevue Police Department at PDTipline@bellevuewa.gov or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
