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| Morden mosque fire: 70 firefighters tackle blaze | Morden mosque fire: 70 firefighters tackle blaze |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A large fire has broken out at a mosque in south London. | |
| The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London Road in Morden, which describes itself as the largest mosque in western Europe, was being tackled by 70 firefighters. | The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London Road in Morden, which describes itself as the largest mosque in western Europe, was being tackled by 70 firefighters. |
| London Fire Brigade said about 50% of the building's ground floor was alight and the first floor was also on fire. | London Fire Brigade said about 50% of the building's ground floor was alight and the first floor was also on fire. |
| A London Ambulance Service spokesman said a man was taken to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. | A London Ambulance Service spokesman said a man was taken to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. |
| The brigade was called at just after 12:00 BST to the mosque, which also has a community centre attached. | The brigade was called at just after 12:00 BST to the mosque, which also has a community centre attached. |
| Station Manager Philip Morton, who is at the scene, said: "This is a large fire and our crews are working hard to minimise fire spread to other parts of the mosque. | Station Manager Philip Morton, who is at the scene, said: "This is a large fire and our crews are working hard to minimise fire spread to other parts of the mosque. |
| "We are working closely with the local community to ensure our damage control operations take full regard of the religious significance of the building's contents." | "We are working closely with the local community to ensure our damage control operations take full regard of the religious significance of the building's contents." |
| Julian Roman, from Morden, told the BBC: "There's really thick smoke at the minute. | Julian Roman, from Morden, told the BBC: "There's really thick smoke at the minute. |
| "I saw it start from my window. There was a tiny bit of smoke, some alarms. | "I saw it start from my window. There was a tiny bit of smoke, some alarms. |
| "Now there are firefighters, ambulances, hundreds of people." | "Now there are firefighters, ambulances, hundreds of people." |
| The Baitul Futuh Mosque serves the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and was built on the site of the old Express Dairies in 1999. | The Baitul Futuh Mosque serves the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and was built on the site of the old Express Dairies in 1999. |
| Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis described the mosque as a "major landmark" in the area. | Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis described the mosque as a "major landmark" in the area. |
| Damage to the "beautiful building" will be a "big blow" to the community, he said. | Damage to the "beautiful building" will be a "big blow" to the community, he said. |
| Mr Alambritis said the mosque is manned by security staff and suggested the fire could have been caused by cooking preparations rather than an arson attack. | Mr Alambritis said the mosque is manned by security staff and suggested the fire could have been caused by cooking preparations rather than an arson attack. |
| Lord Ahmad, a high-profile member of Ahmadiyya community and junior government minister, tweeted : "This is a beautiful mosque complex which has transcended barriers and been a beacon of peace -thoughts & prayers." |