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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 1 hour later) | |
A volunteer at the mosque said two people in balaclavas poured liquid at the entrance and also near a parked car and set it alight | A volunteer at the mosque said two people in balaclavas poured liquid at the entrance and also near a parked car and set it alight |
A mosque in East Sussex has been damaged in a suspected arson attack, which police are investigating as a hate crime. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Sussex Police is treating the fire as suspected arson and a hate crime | Sussex Police is treating the fire as suspected arson and a hate crime |
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. |
Tariq Jung, chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum, said "everybody is deeply saddened and appalled" by the events in Manchester and Peacehaven. | |
He said that, irrespective of whether worshippers were Jewish, Christian, Hindu or Muslim, the "last thing" they should expect is that someone would try to harm them. | |
"I hope faith leaders and others within the community will come together to try and bring peace," he told BBC Radio Sussex. | |
"We've got to... support each other at this time of great need." |