New Jersey man charged with federal hate crime for breaking into, vandalizing Islamic center at Rutgers University

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A New Jersey man was charged on Monday with a federal hate crime after breaking in and vandalizing the Islamic center at New Jersey's Rutgers University on the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, according to prosecutors.

Jacob Beacher, 24, of Somerset County, was arrested and charged by complaint with one count of intentional or attempted obstruction of religious practice and one count of making false statements to federal authorities, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Beacher allegedly broke into the CILRU at around 2:41 a.m. on April 10 and damaged the property, including religious artifacts like Turbah prayer stones used by Muslims for prayer. He also allegedly damaged items with holy language from the Qur’an. Prosecutors stated that Beacher stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box belonging to the CILRU.

“This reprehensible act, occurring on our sacred day, is undoubtedly fueled by Islamophobia, is clearly a hate crime targeting our Muslim population at Rutgers," the group's chairwoman, Atiya Aftab, had said in a statement on the day of the incident.

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin called the incident “appalling” and said his office is working to investigate it along with other officials.

“Let me be clear: New Jersey will not tolerate acts of hate against the Muslim community,” Platkin said in a statement.

The FBI Newark Field Office, Branchburg Resident Agency, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Rutgers University Police Department-New Brunswick Division and New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory investigated the case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.