An Oakland mosque was the target of a vandal yesterday when someone splashed red paint across the front steps leading to the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh hours before the traditional Muslim day of worship, mosque officials said.

"Whoever did this did it because of our holiday today, just like someone doing something to a church very early on Sunday morning," said Imam Abdusemi, a leader at the center.

The paint, splattered across the front steps and railings, greeted an estimated 1,000 worshippers yesterday as they turned out for prayer.

"For somebody to come and do this in front of a mosque, they are telling us something. So we believe it's definitely a hate crime," Imam Abdusemi said.

Houses in the neighborhood were unaffected by the vandalism and children held a snowball battle on the building lawn as parents worshipped inside yesterday afternoon. A mother fed her baby in the building lobby and prayers went on without incident.

Imam Abdusemi said the mosque property had been vandalized once before in its 15-year history. One worshipper worried about the incident, coming on the heels of heightening tensions in the Middle East.

"The way it's coinciding with events, it's hard to believe someone did that," said Mohammed Irfan, an engineer from Shadyside. "I believe it's some jerk. I'm not at all frightened."