'He was jumping up and down like a little kid': Man found guilty of hate crime in burning down Texas mosque

Marq Vincent Perez, 26, faces up to 20 years in prison for burning down the Texas mosque

A man has been found guilty of committing a hate crime after burning down a mosque in Texas.

The town of Victoria, Texas was shaken last year when 26-year-old Marq Vincent Perez set fire to the Victoria Islamic Centre, burning it to the ground while "jumping up and down like a little kid," according to one witness who spoke at his trial. Testimony revealed Mr Perez had conducted "recon" on the mosque in the days ahead of the fire and had a well-documented history of Islamophobic behaviour on social media.

“While we are saddened by this hate-motivated crime against a house of worship, we are relieved that the arm of justice is long and bends toward what is right,” Mustafaa Carroll, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Houston bureau, said in a statement following the verdict.

"We thank all law enforcement agencies, first responders, the Victoria community, and all those who helped their Muslim neighbours."

The jury deliberated for three hours after a five-day trial, finding Mr Perez guilty on Monday afternoon.

He faces up to 20 years for the hate crime, and 10 years for the possession of an unregistered destructive device. Each of his charges carry a maximum fine of $250,000. His sentencing is expected to occur on 2 October.

“This case represents the great coordination and cooperation of many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” US Attorney Ryan Patrick said in a statement. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the religious liberty of all people and their ability to practice their faith without being the target of this kind of dangerous activity."

Religious leaders and the public in Victoria rallied behind the mosque and its worshippers, raising over $1m in a GoFundMe campaign for the centre’s reconstruction. Local churches and a Jewish congregation opened their doors to the Islamic community, providing the keys to a local synagogue so their prayer schedule could go on uninterrupted.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K Turner also celebrated the charges, saying in a statement: “Hate crimes are not only an attack on a specific victim, they threaten the cornerstone of diversity that America was built upon."