Gunshots hit US mosque

A MOSQUE in the Californian desert city of Coachella has been fired at in what police are investigating as a possible hate crime.

A REPORT of shots fired was received just before dawn and police found that several shots had struck the Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley building and a nearby vehicle.

The building was occupied but nobody was injured.

"Any time shots are fired at a house of worship, the FBI should offer its resources to local authorities to help determine whether or not there was a bias motive for the attack," Council on American-Islamic Relations Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said.

Last month in New Mexico, someone hurled a Molotov cocktail at the wall of an unoccupied Albuquerque mosque.

No one was hurt, and no suspects were identified.

Community members held a peace walk a few days later to support the mosque.