Blaze at mosque entrance days after fatal synagogue attack; authorities step up security at places of worship
UK police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mosque in Peacehaven, a town on England’s south coast, as a hate crime, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The fire, which occurred late Saturday night, damaged the front entrance of the mosque and a vehicle parked outside, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The incident took place around 9:50pm local time (1:50am PKT Sunday), according to a statement by Sussex Police. Emergency services quickly responded to the fire on Phyllis Avenue and launched a criminal investigation.
Police appeal for information; increased patrols underway
Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna urged residents to come forward with CCTV, Ring doorbell, dashcam, or mobile footage from the area at the time of the incident.
“This is a fast-moving investigation. We understand the concerns this has raised, particularly within the Muslim community,” she said, adding that the police force has a “zero-tolerance approach” to hate crime.
An increased police presence has been deployed in the area, with extra patrols at mosques and other places of worship across Sussex to provide reassurance.
A mosque volunteer, speaking anonymously to the BBC, described the attack as potentially deadly. He said two individuals tried to force entry, and when they found the doors locked, poured a flammable liquid near the entrance and the car outside before setting it alight.
“It could have been murder,” he said, revealing that two people inside the mosque at the time managed to escape.
Incident follows deadly Manchester synagogue attack
The arson comes just days after a deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester, in which two people were killed and three others seriously injured. British police later confirmed that officers had accidentally shot one of the victims, mistaking him for the attacker, who was reportedly wearing a fake explosive belt and was ultimately killed by police at the scene.
In light of these back-to-back incidents targeting religious sites, UK authorities are urging calm and reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding all communities.
