Vincent Lang Charged with Arson at Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that 60‑year‑old Vincent Lang has been indicted for setting fire to the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center on July 5. The indictment includes one count of malicious damage by fire to a building used in interstate commerce and one count of damage to religious real property, alleging Lang targeted the site because it is a mosque. Lang was arrested in mid‑July, remains in federal custody, and faces a maximum sentence of 40 years with a mandatory minimum of five years. Local reports said no one was injured. Rights groups noted the case reflects a broader rise in Islamophobia in the United States.