UPDATE: Arson At Muslim Association Building Blamed On Kids

UPDATE: 3:38 p.m., Tuesday: 

Police confirmed to LevittownNow.com that three juveniles who attend a program at the United American Muslim Association school building were responsible for the Monday afternoon fire.

The juveniles – between the ages of 10 and 14 years old – were to blame for the storage room blaze that burnt through paper towels and toilet paper inside the three-story structure. The fire was on the second floor and left smoke damage throughout, officials said.

The incident was not a hate crime, police said.

The case has been turned over to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office to determine if charges are warranted.

Original Story:

The Bristol Township Fire Marshal has ruled Monday afternoon’s fire at a Muslim association’s school building an arson.

The fire was reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. in the United American Muslim Association school building on Emilie Road. Crews arrived to find the fire in a second-floor storage room and damage on all three floors of the former Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Catholic Church school, Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito said.

Further details on the arson were not released, but Dippolito confirmed detectives and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are assisting.

There were no injuries in the fire that charred the closet full of toiletries.

On Monday evening, a representative of the United American Muslim Association said the school building was not in use and awaiting a United American Muslim Association redevelopment.

In late 2016, the United American Muslim Association purchased the closed parish property from the Catholic Church for more than $1.7 million. The United American Muslim Association was reported at the time to be the parent organization of the Turkish American Muslim Cultural Association, which serves Lower Bucks County’s Muslim population, especially those with ties to Turkey.