Muslim civil rights group suspects Islamophobia in attack on Troy business

Police in Waldo County are investigating a possible motive for an apparent shotgun attack on a newly-installed sign for a Muslim business.

Owners of the Five Pillars Butchery House of Meat in Troy say someone fired buckshot through their sign for their meat business on Sunday just about an hour after it was put up.

The owners say they saw the eight holes in the sign Monday morning.

A national Muslim advocacy group is now calling on Maine law enforcement officials to investigate whether Islamophobia played a role in the alleged shooting.

The council on American-Islamic relations sent a report to the Waldo County Sheriff's Office after being contacted by the owners of the business, asking that they try to determine whether the person acted with bias.

The family says they are worried about their safety in their community.

"It's not just about it being a sign for our business. This is our home," said Kathryn Piper, who owns the Troy business with her husband, Hussam Alrawi. "You know, my husband said before if they were comfortable enough to do this, what will be the next step? Or, what if he had been outside, what would they have done? Would they have done something worse? You know, all of these things are just running through our head. It's a lot to take in and it's hard to understand."

Piper who owns the business with her husband says they hope to speak with others in the community so that folks can get to know them and understand their culture.

They say despite the fear the incident has caused, they have no plans of leaving Troy.