This Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 file photo shows Cody Crawford in Corvallis, Ore. The 24-year-old man has been arrested on hate crime charges for the November 2010 firebombing of a mosque in Corvallis, Ore. – Photo by AP

WASHINGTON: A US federal grand jury has indicted an Oregon resident on hate crime and arson charges for intentionally setting fire to the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Centre in Oregon, said a statement issued by the White House.

The US Justice Department identified the accused as Cody Crawford, 24, of Corvallis, Oregon. According to the indictment, Mr Crawford is charged with one count of damaging religious property and one count of arson.

Mr Crawford allegedly set fire to the mosque during the early morning hours of Nov 28, 2010, less than two days after authorities arrested an individual in connection with the Portland Christmas Tree Lighting terror plot.

The indictment alleges that Mr Crawford set the fire because of the race, colour or ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with the mosque.

“Burning a house of worship because of hatred towards members of one religion is not just an attack on that religion; it is an attack on our core American values,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

“The Civil Rights Division will aggressively protect the rights of all persons to worship without fear of violence or intimidation.”