WASHINGTON • The Justice Department is investigating a handful of apparently anti-Muslim incidents in four states. The open criminal investigations were confirmed in response to a query from The Associated Press.

The incidents have followed sustained criticism of the planned mosque near the former site of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Early plans for the project known as Park51 call for a 500-seat auditorium, a Sept. 11 memorial and prayer space.

Among the incidents under investigation as potential hate crimes, all dating from July and August:

• A Muslim cab driver in New York City had his face and throat slashed. Michael Enright of Brewster, N.Y., has been indicted on state hate-crime charges in the attack and could also face assault and attempted murder charges.

• Arson was found at a site in Murfreesboro, Tenn., where leaders of the local Islamic Center won permission in the spring to build a new mosque.

• A brick nearly smashed a window at the Madera Islamic Center in central California, where signs were left behind that read, "Wake up America, the enemy is here," and "No temple for the god of terrorism."

• A fire and graffiti were discovered at the Dar El-Eman Islamic Center in Arlington, Texas.

• Five teens were arrested after the son of one of the founders of a mosque in Waterport, N.Y., was sideswiped by a vehicle. One teen was accused of firing a shotgun in the air near the mosque a few days earlier.