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Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as 'hate crime' | Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as 'hate crime' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A mosque in East Sussex has been damaged in a suspected arson attack, which police are investigating as a hate crime. | |
Fire crews were called to the mosque on Phyllis Avenue in Peacehaven at about 21:50 BST on Saturday. | |
While no-one was injured in the incident, the front entrance of the building and a vehicle parked outside were damaged, Sussex Police said in a statement. | |
"We understand the concerns this has caused within the community, and the impact that will be felt by the Muslim community as a result," Det Supt Karrie Bohanna said. | "We understand the concerns this has caused within the community, and the impact that will be felt by the Muslim community as a result," Det Supt Karrie Bohanna said. |
"There is already an increased police presence at the scene and there are also additional patrols taking place to provide reassurance at other places of worship across the county." | "There is already an increased police presence at the scene and there are also additional patrols taking place to provide reassurance at other places of worship across the county." |
A volunteer at the mosque, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that two people tried to enter through the front door, only to find it locked. | |
They then poured a liquid at the entrance and near a car parked outside, which was set alight, the volunteer said. | They then poured a liquid at the entrance and near a car parked outside, which was set alight, the volunteer said. |
"It could have been murder," the man said, adding that two people inside the mosque managed to escape. | "It could have been murder," the man said, adding that two people inside the mosque managed to escape. |
Video circulating on social media appears to show two people in balaclavas approaching an entry before a large blaze spreads. | Video circulating on social media appears to show two people in balaclavas approaching an entry before a large blaze spreads. |
The footage has not been verified by the BBC. | The footage has not been verified by the BBC. |
There is renewed focus around safety at places of worship following the attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, in which two Jewish people were killed. | There is renewed focus around safety at places of worship following the attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, in which two Jewish people were killed. |
The suspect, who was shot dead at the scene, has been named as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. | The suspect, who was shot dead at the scene, has been named as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. |