Mosque battle starts over parking spot

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SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A brawl outside a Salt Lake City mosque had nothing to do with religious differences, a mosque leader says.

The Friday fight among 100 people leaving midday prayers led to four injuries and three arrests by police called to the West Valley City Mosque.

A police spokesperson's contention that differing religious views may have escalated the conflict was denied by a member of the mosque's board of directors, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sunday.

The board member said the dispute began over a parking space.

"It's just a simple fight that broke out. It had to do with cars being double-parked and someone wanted to get out in a hurry ... it's just a simple thing that kind of got out of hand," said Iqbal Hossain. "It's just sheer nonsense that it happened because of religious differences."

The fight reportedly started with a conflict between a 26-year-old man and a juvenile. The 26-year-old had a box cutter, while another man allegedly took out a knife to defend the juvenile.