A mosque in the US state of Florida has been set ablaze by an arsonist during the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday.

According to authorities, fire crews arrived at the scene in the early hours of Monday after receiving reports of flames coming out of the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, located about 160km southeast of the city of Orlando.

No injuries were reported and the extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's holiest festivals, was being celebrated on Monday and also could have forced the attack on, Major David Thompson, of the St Lucie County Sheriff's Office.

He told reporters at a news conference, "We are not sure exactly whether this is a hate crime or just an arson, we do know that a crime has occurred and that it is arson". Thompson added.

Investigators had been considering a connection with the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on Sunday.

At the news conference, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida said that the blaze was an act of hate.

Ahmed Bedier, president of the civic group United Voices for America, also called for authorities to investigate it as a hate crime. Hamaad Rahman, associate imam at the mosque, reported, "For this to happen to us, on the morning of our biggest celebration of the year, was something horrific" .

The mosque temporarily relocated its morning prayers for Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice that marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Security video showed that an individual approaching the northeast side of the building on a motorcycle around 11:38 PM, fled after a flash of light appeared.

The statement said, "In the video, it appeared he is carrying paper and a bottle of some type of liquid,"  Photographs posted on the sheriff department's Facebook page showed that fire engines parked in front of the building, which was church previously.

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By Prakriti Neogi