Police arrest suspect accused of setting fire at southwest Houston mosque

Police have arrested a man accused of setting fire to a mosque in southwest Houston.

Gary Nathaniel Moore was booked into jail early Wednesday morning following a joint investigation by agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Houston Fire Department’s Arson Bureau.

The two-alarm fire broke out Christmas Day afternoon, shortly after Friday prayers were held at the mosque, which is located in a strip mall at 11246 S. Wilcrest near West Bellfort.

Members of the Savoy Mosque say they still can't believe the man accused of torching their place of worship is someone who once prayed alongside them.
 
"He prayed here yesterday morning," said Dramane Diallo.
 
Investigators say the 37-year-old Moore is the man behind the Christmas Day fire.  People at the mosque knew him as Jamal.
 
They say there was never any sign of trouble with Moore.
 
"There was not any difference between us and him, so we were brothers doing everything together as Muslims," Diallo said.
 
Investigators say surveillance video from two businesses shows a man leaving the mosque just as smoke began pouring from the building.  A member of the mosque later identified the man in the video as Moore.
 
Tuesday, police searched his Southwest Houston home, which is just half a mile from the mosque.
 
Detectives say they found a container of charcoal lighter fluid with the same serial number as one found at the scene. Investigators say there is still no motive.

Moore’s bond has been set at $100,000, according to Harris County District Court records.