Police in the UK are investigating a suspected arson assault on a mosque in southern England as a “hate crime” as a spate of violent crime in opposition to non secular websites is reported.
Officers had been referred to as to the positioning of an arson assault on Phyllis Avenue in Peacehaven, East Sussex, simply earlier than 10pm (22:00 GMT) on Saturday, native police stated.
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The hearth broken the entrance entrance of the mosque and a automotive, they stated, including that nobody was injured.
Photos and pictures shared on-line present a burned-out automotive on the entrance of the mosque.
In line with a report on CNN, which quoted a volunteer mosque supervisor, two individuals had been contained in the constructing when two individuals in balaclavas tried to drive the mosque door open and poured petrol onto the steps, setting the constructing alight.
A spokesperson for the mosque stated in a press release that the group was “deeply saddened” by the “surprising” assault. “Whereas the incident has prompted injury to our constructing and automobiles, we’re profoundly grateful that no-one was injured.”
“This hateful act doesn’t signify our group or our city. Peacehaven has all the time been a spot of kindness, respect, and mutual assist, and we are going to proceed to embody these values,” the assertion continued.
“We ask everybody to reject division and reply to hate with unity and compassion,” it added.
Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna stated the assault had prompted considerations throughout the Muslim group. “There may be already an elevated police presence on the scene, and there are additionally extra patrols happening to supply reassurance at different locations of worship throughout the county,” Bohanna stated.
“Sussex Police takes a zero-tolerance strategy to hate crime, and there’s no place for hate throughout the county.”
Potential act of ‘terrorism’
Mothin Ali, deputy chief of the Inexperienced Occasion, stated the police should set up the motives of the assault and whether or not it constitutes “an act of terrorism”.
“Individuals had been contained in the mosque when it was firebombed and other people on this group might be feeling frightened and focused for his or her religion,” Ali stated.
Chris Ward, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, stated he was “appalled” by the “disgusting” assault.
“That there have been no accidents is only by likelihood,” he stated. “This violence and hatred has no place in our peaceable, tolerant local people. We are going to root it out, and we stand in solidarity with all affected.”
The assault comes after a ramming and stabbing at a synagogue in northern Manchester on Thursday. It killed two individuals and significantly injured three.
The Muslim Council of Britain condemned Saturday’s assault, saying it was “profoundly shocked and alarmed by the Islamophobic arson assault” and urged authorities to “present strong safety for all locations of worship”.
The mosque assault “follows a disturbing sample of violence and intimidation”, it added. “Simply final week, an Imam was stabbed in Hounslow, whereas mosques throughout the nation have confronted bomb threats and coordinated hate campaigns,” the council added in its assertion.
Individually, the East London Mosque stated on X that “our communities should stay united – Muslims, Jews, Christians, individuals of all faiths and none – in standing collectively in opposition to extremism, intolerance and violence.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews additionally condemned the mosque assault, saying on X that “each religion group has the best to worship free from worry. Our nation is best than this.”
The assaults on non secular websites come because the environment within the UK stays tense after months of protests in opposition to asylum seekers and a social media marketing campaign referred to as #OperationRaisetheColours.
In current weeks, these heeding the decision have pinned the flag of England bearing St George’s Cross and Union Jacks to motorway bridges, lampposts, roundabouts and a few outlets throughout the UK. Purple crosses have been spray-painted on the white stripes of zebra crossings.
Whereas some supporters body the mission as patriotic, it has been tied to racist incidents together with the looks of racist graffiti.
