A US man who pleaded guilty to firebombing a Tennessee mosque and daubing swastikas on part of the religious facility has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

Eric Ian Baker was sentenced Thursday to 183 months in prison for an attack in which he and two other men painted swastikas and the phrase "White Power" on a mosque before throwing Molotov cocktails at the facility.

The mosque was destroyed in the attack.

Baker's co-defendant Michael Corey Golden was sentenced to 171 months for his role in the attack, the Justice Department said in a statement.

A third attacker has been convicted but awaits sentencing.

Daoud Abudiab, president of the Islamic Center of Columbia, said he would have expected a longer sentence, given that Baker was thought to be the group's leader.

"But I feel the court recognized the gravity of their actions, and 15 years, in my opinion, is reflective of that," he said.

The Islamic Center purchased and renovated a new building with the help of other faith groups and was able to worship in it by November 2008, he said.


Agencies