Police: Too soon to rule out arson in W. Bank mosque fire

“The circumstances of the fire are still being examined, and all directions are being examined,” say cops.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
mosque fire 311 (photo credit: AP)
mosque fire 311
(photo credit: AP)
Police forensic officers investigating a fire that broke out Tuesday at a mosque in Lubban Sharkiya, north of Ramallah, have not found any flammable material that would indicate that the blaze was caused by arson.
Analysis: Sentenced before the evidence is in
Police said, however, that it was too soon to rule out arson, as the investigation was ongoing.
Evidence collected by police officers and firefighters at the scene onTuesday was analyzed closely at a forensics lab at police headquartersin Jerusalem and tested for traces of flammable material.
“The circumstances of the fire are still being examined, and alldirections are being examined,” Judea and Samaria Police said in astatement, stressing that “although no flammable material wasidentified, we have not yet ruled out arson as a possibility. The issueis still under investigation.”
The Palestinian Authority insisted on Tuesday that the mosque had been torched by Jewish settlers.