Muslim man beaten outside Florida mosque

A Muslim man was beaten on Saturday outside a Florida mosque, authorities and a Muslim civil rights group differed as to whether the attack was racially motivated.

A Muslim man was beaten on Saturday outside a Florida mosque, authorities and a Muslim civil rights group differed as to whether the attack was racially motivated.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said the assault outside the Fort Pierce Islamic Center was reported around 4:11 a.m. local time and that deputies found the victim, who had been punched in the head and face, bleeding from the mouth. The suspect, 25-year-old Taylor Anthony Mazzanti, was arrested shortly thereafter and booked on a charge of felony battery, the office said.

CAIR said the attacker, who is white, allegedly said, “You Muslims need to get back to your country,” before assaulting the victim, who was not identified by CAIR or authorities. CAIR said the victim was Muslim and attended the Islamic Center.