MichiganRadio

FBI: East Lansing Quran burning might be a hate crime DETROIT, MI (Michigan Radio) - The FBI is looking into the case of a burned Quran left at an East Lansing mosque last weekend.

FBI Special Agent Andrew Arena says the Agency is investigating the case as a possible hate crime under federal law.

But Arena says there's still not enough information to about the perpetrators' intent to make that determination. He says there's sometimes a thin line between free speech and hate crimes.

"Burning an American flag or burning the Quran or burning anything on public property or private property that's protected speech," Arena says. "But when you do something at a religious institution with intent to intimidate that's the question [here]."

Arena says both the FBI and East Lansing Police are still looking into the case. The East Lansing police have offered a $10,000 reward for information.

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