Man arrested after Quran damaged at Arizona State University

Damage witnessed through footage

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State University police have arrested a 38-year-old homeless man they say is responsible for damaging Islamic literature and a copy of the Quran at the campus library.

Police are investigating a motive for damage at the Hayden Library’s interfaith room on Wednesday.

Before the arrest, the Center for American-Islamic Relations called it a hate crime and the ASU Muslim Students Association posted photos of burned and torn pages with Arabic writing and damage to a wall.

Authorities say officers arrested the man after a witness reported to library staff that he tore up several magazines and books.

Officers connected him to the earlier damage of Islamic materials through surveillance footage.