Portland police continue to investigate the spray-painting of an offensive message on a halal market in Portland, but had brought no charges by late Monday.
The graffiti was sprayed onto the Portland Halal Market on St. John Street at 5 a.m. Sunday. In red capital letters on the windows and brick on a side of the building, it referred to Allah and included a sexual epithet. Allah was misspelled as “Alah.” Police described it as a hate crime.
Similar writing, though not with the same offensive message, had been seen in prior weeks, police said.
Police released pictures from security video in an effort to locate the suspect.
Other faith groups urged authorities to treat the crime seriously.
“It is important that our entire community, no matter what our faith may be, rejects in the strongest terms bigotry directed against any faith or people,” said a statement issued by the Jewish Community Alliance. “We encourage the Portland police and the Maine Attorney General to vigorously investigate and prosecute those responsible for this shameful act.”
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