Mosque members vote to rebuild in Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - The Islamic Society of Joplin will rebuild its destroyed mosque inside Joplin city limits.

Mosque officials say members voted overwhelmingly Wednesday not to rebuild the mosque at the site outside city limits where it was destroyed by a suspicious fire Aug. 6.

Iman Lahmuddin said the new mosque's location has not been determined. Members of the mosque are currently using a temporary site at a Joplin shopping center.

The Joplin Globe reports (http://bit.ly/QOcF2a ) investigators have not determined a cause for the fire but have called it suspicious. A smaller arson fire was set at the mosque on July 4.

Lahmuddin says members thought security would be better and the mosque would have better access to utilities inside the city.

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Information from: The Joplin Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com