Masked men torch UK mosque in suspected hate crime
A mosque in the seaside town of Peacehaven in southern England was set alight on Saturday evening in an attack police are treating as a hate crime.
Emergency services were called to Phyllis Avenue at around 22:00 after flames engulfed the entrance of the mosque and a nearby car. Sussex Police said CCTV footage showed two masked individuals starting the fire.
Images and videos posted online show a person fleeing the building and a burned-out car near the entrance. No injuries were reported.
Police said they are treating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life and have released images of two suspects. One was wearing a black jacket, the other red gloves. Officers urged the public to come forward with any information.
“This was an appalling and reckless attack which we know will have left many people feeling less safe,” said Detective Inspector Gavin Patch.
“We are treating this as an arson with intent to endanger life and are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry to identify those responsible,” he added.
Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said he was “appalled by the disgusting arson attack”, adding that the lack of injuries was “purely by chance”.
Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said she was “deeply shocked and saddened”, stressing: “We will not tolerate any form of hate, prejudice, or targeting of any of our communities”.
The attack comes just days after two Jewish worshippers were killed in a gun attack on a Manchester synagogue, which police described as a terrorist incident.
Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali called on Sussex Police to clarify whether the Peacehaven arson should also be treated as terrorism.
“People were inside the mosque when it was firebombed,” he said. “This community will be feeling frightened and targeted for their faith.”
