An attack on a mosque in southern England is being treated as arson and a hate crime by police, after men in balaclavas were filmed attempting to enter the premises and sparking a fire while people were inside late on Saturday, reported the Middle East Eye. Emergency services were called to the fire at the mosque in Peacehaven, soon after worshippers left following evening prayers.
Speaking to media on Sunday outside the damaged centre on the UK’s south coast, a trustee of the mosque said the community was in shock and traumatised by the attack. “It is definitely hate crime related. The fire did go inside the main area of the building just before the prayer hall.”
A vehicle belonging to a mosque trustee parked outside was set on fire and destroyed in the incident, which was caught on surveillance camera. “It could have been much worse,” another trustee said. “There were two people inside. We think there were three attempts to get inside. We think it may be much more than a hate crime incident. The police are investigating and I wouldn’t want to say much more at this point. The person inside smelt the flames and came outside in good time before the serious explosion,” he added.
Police had cordoned off the area and officers remained in place outside the mosque on Sunday. “Tensions are high [in the area] but people have come forward to show their solidarity,” said the trustee.
There has been a spate of English flag-raising incidents in Peacehaven and along the coast in recent months, a movement associated with far-right anti-immigrant groups.
Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum, in a statement, said it was “deeply saddened, appalled, and utterly condemns the suspected arson attack on the mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, on Saturday night, which Sussex Police are rightly investigating as a hate crime.
“We are relieved that despite the damage to the front entrance and a parked vehicle, the individuals inside managed to escape without physical injury. We fully support the statement of the volunteer who stressed that this could have been a much greater tragedy.”
Sussex Police Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna said: “This is a fast-moving investigation, and we are urging anyone with relevant information to report it to us. We understand the concerns this has caused within the community, and the impact that will be felt by the Muslim community as a result. Sussex Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and there is no place for hate across the county.”
Fundraisers have been set up to help repair the mosque, which serves the wider area with up to 500 worshippers at Friday prayers. “The entire premises are damaged up to the worshipping area. We are worried that people won’t be able to pray,” said the trustee. There are no other major mosques in the immediate area.
