Post by : Rameen Ariff

Police in southern England are investigating a suspected arson attack at a mosque in Peacehaven, treating it as a potential hate crime. The incident occurred late on Saturday, causing damage to the mosque's front entrance and a vehicle parked outside. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Authorities have released images of two masked men dressed in dark clothing and are appealing to the public for information to help identify the suspects. Detective Inspector Gavin Patch described the blaze as an “appalling and reckless attack” that would have left many in the community feeling unsafe. He added that the fire is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life, and police are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to locate those responsible.

The fire at the Peacehaven mosque follows a fatal attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, in which two people died and three others were seriously injured. Police are exploring a potential link to Islamist extremism between the two incidents.

A spokesperson for the mosque said the community is “profoundly grateful that no-one was injured” and called for unity in response to hate. “This hateful act does not represent our community or our town,” the spokesperson added, emphasizing the need for solidarity and compassion.

The attack drew condemnation from government officials and religious leaders. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood called the blaze “deeply concerning” and said, “Attacks against Britain’s Muslims are attacks against all Britons and this country itself.”

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, also denounced the mosque fire and called for greater solidarity among faith communities. “Every faith community has the right to worship free from fear. Our country is better than this,” Rosenberg said. He stressed the importance of unity, stating, “We are the United Kingdom. And we need to move forward against hate together.”

The Peacehaven mosque fire highlights growing concerns over hate crimes in the UK and the importance of community solidarity. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward to aid the investigation and prevent further attacks.

#world news #Global News