Abdul-Rauf's home destroyed by fire

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nba/stories/2001-07-30-abdul-rauf.htm

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — The unoccupied home of NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was destroyed by fire Monday.

No one was injured in the blaze that left only the brick frame was left standing at Abdul-Rauf's house, five miles outside of Gulfport. Authorities said arson has not been ruled out.

"As far as I'm concerned, this sounds like a hate crime," said Abdul-Rauf, who is black. "When a person can't build a home on the property he owns, it's ridiculous. It shows how hateful and how prejudiced people are."

The house, which had been for sale, has never been occupied.

During construction of the 2,800-square-foot home,
the
letters
KKK
were spray-painted on a sign near the house, Abdul-Rauf said.
The
contractor
had reported receiving calls
threatening his life.

"I (once) said before I moved in, it would be burned down," Abdul-Rauf said. "This is just an indication, I think, of how far we've got to go in terms of human relations in this country."

Hancock County Fire Marshall Richard Pate said the cause of the fire is unknown, but that arson hasn't been ruled out.

"We want to cover all bases on this thing to make sure we don't miss anything," Pate said.