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Two religious centers close to East Niagara have been vandalized in the past three days.

Thursday night, a cross was burned into the front law of a mosque in Orleans County. According to the Orleans Hub, sheriff's deputies were called to the World Sufi Foundation Mosque, 1529 Fuller Road, Carlton — approximately 10 miles east of Lyndonville in northern Orleans County — at around 9:30 p.m. Unknown suspects had poured an accelerant on the front lawn of the mosque, in the shape of a cross, and ignited it. A similar smaller cross was burned in the lawn near the southwest corner of the property.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office says it has identified three people responsible for the vandalism. All three of the alleged perpetrators are under 21 and three live in Orleans County. They have been interviewed by investigators with the Sheriff’s Office and they will surrender themselves to the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

Then at approximately 5:30 this morning, Amherst Police and the Getzville Fire Co. responded to an alarm at the Chapel at Crosspoint in Getzville. When they arrived, they found that someone had thrown a Molotov cocktail into the church, doing about $10,000 in damage before being put out by the church's sprinkler system.

Church leaders say the Chapel's doors will be open in time for Sunday morning services.

A statement by Chapel Pastor Jerry Gillis states, “As the authorities continue to investigate the minor damage to our facility and the motive behind it, we are reminded to continue in our mission of sharing the love of Christ with all people and to serving this great community we live in.  We look forward to doing just that tomorrow as we gather for worship at our regularly scheduled worship times.”

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms has been called to work with the Amherst Police on the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 689-1364.

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