This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/05/fire-islamic-community-centre-muswell-hill

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Police investigate fire at north London Islamic community centre Counter-terrorism police investigate fire at Islamic community centre
(35 minutes later)
Police are treating a fire that badly damaged an Islamic community centre as suspicious amid continuing fears of reprisals following the Woolwich murder. Police are treating a fire that badly damaged an Islamic community centre and mosque as suspicious amid continuing fears of reprisals following the Woolwich murder.
Scotland Yard said: "The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and is being treated as suspicious at this stage." Specialist officers from the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorism command are leading the investigations in to the incident at Muswell Hill, north London.
Police have also confirmed that EDL graffiti – which may stand for English Defence League, a far right group – was found at the building while neighbours reported hearing a loud explosion in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A large area has been cordoned off with officers conducting a fingertip search in surrounding streets.
Scotland Yard said: "The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and is being treated as suspicious at this stage … Graffiti reading EDL has been found on the building. Police are investigating any potential connection between the graffiti and the fire."
There have been no arrests.
Six fire engines and about 35 firefighters were sent to put out the blaze in a building in Muswell Hill, north London, early on Wednesday. The building houses the al-Rahma Islamic Centre and the Bravanese Centre used by members of the local residents with links to Somalia. It took more than an hour to bring the fire under control. Two neighbouring properties were evacuated.Six fire engines and about 35 firefighters were sent to put out the blaze in a building in Muswell Hill, north London, early on Wednesday. The building houses the al-Rahma Islamic Centre and the Bravanese Centre used by members of the local residents with links to Somalia. It took more than an hour to bring the fire under control. Two neighbouring properties were evacuated.
London fire brigade said the entire building was damaged, and there had been a "partial structural collapse". A woman from a neighbouring property was treated for shock at the scene by ambulance crews.London fire brigade said the entire building was damaged, and there had been a "partial structural collapse". A woman from a neighbouring property was treated for shock at the scene by ambulance crews.
One report suggested fire crews had seen the letters EDL scrawled on the side of the building. EDL may stand for English Defence League, a far-right group.
The building was cordoned off as specialist police teams investigated. There have been no arrests.
Chief Superintendent Adrian Usher said. "I have spoken to community leaders and assured them that a thorough investigation is being conducted.Chief Superintendent Adrian Usher said. "I have spoken to community leaders and assured them that a thorough investigation is being conducted.
"The safety of our communities is always our priority and we are consulting widely, offering our support and reassurance. All communities can be confident that they have our support and I can be contacted personally to answer their concerns.""The safety of our communities is always our priority and we are consulting widely, offering our support and reassurance. All communities can be confident that they have our support and I can be contacted personally to answer their concerns."
Mohamed Elmi, chairman of Somali Dispora UK, said his organisation had received around 100 calls from people associated with the centre.
"Fifty per cent of the people who have been in touch are from people who say they are scared – scared to leave their homes or women scared to wear their hijabs in the street … People are really shaken up by this."
But he said that if the aim of those behind the fire was to divide people they would fail, adding: "We have to be calm and strong and not let these people win."
Ahmed Sheiba had been a regular at the Islamic centre for the past decade and had arrived for a meeting this morning to find it all but destroyed. "We are just sad to be honest what can we do?" he asked.
Sharon Sturgess who lives near the centre said she had woken to the sound of fire engines at around 3.30am.
"It was a youth club when I was a girl and we all used to go there... You just don't think this sort of thing is going happen in your own area do you?"
One witness, who wanted only to be known as Nurein, told the London Evening Standard: "I was woken up by loud noises and then soon I could smell the fire. I went outside and it was really bad. There were huge flames and lots of smoke. There were several fire engines and I think even a helicopter. It was terrible. This will really shake the community up."One witness, who wanted only to be known as Nurein, told the London Evening Standard: "I was woken up by loud noises and then soon I could smell the fire. I went outside and it was really bad. There were huge flames and lots of smoke. There were several fire engines and I think even a helicopter. It was terrible. This will really shake the community up."
Mohamed Ali, of the Somali charity BritSom, believed the incident was linked to the Woolwich attack in south-east London. "The place has been absolutely destroyed. The community is shocked and very distressed because they have been here in peace for the past 20 years.Mohamed Ali, of the Somali charity BritSom, believed the incident was linked to the Woolwich attack in south-east London. "The place has been absolutely destroyed. The community is shocked and very distressed because they have been here in peace for the past 20 years.
"We are a peaceful community so I do not know what has brought this on. The building is a centre for the community, it is used as a mosque, a gathering place for Somalis to meet up and as a school for young children to learn Arabic."We are a peaceful community so I do not know what has brought this on. The building is a centre for the community, it is used as a mosque, a gathering place for Somalis to meet up and as a school for young children to learn Arabic.
"This is shocking but it will not break the community as a whole. I would appeal to the people who did this to come and sit down with us and have a dialogue. That is the only way forward.""This is shocking but it will not break the community as a whole. I would appeal to the people who did this to come and sit down with us and have a dialogue. That is the only way forward."
According to Faith Matters, a group which monitors anti-Muslim hatred, there had been 10 attacks on mosques since Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich two weeks ago. The most serious so far has been the attempted fire bombing of the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre while people were inside. According to Faith Matters, a group which monitors anti-Muslim hatred, there had been 12 attacks on mosques since Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich two weeks ago. The most serious so far has been the attempted fire bombing of the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre while people were inside.
The £6m Bomber Command memorial in Green Park, London, unveiled last summer, has also been defaced for a second time in just over a week. The RAF Benevolent Association (RAFBF) responsible for the upkeep of the structure which was funded by philanthropists and a public appeal would not confirm reports that the graffiti demanded the killers of Rigby should be hanged. The mosque attacks are among 222 anti-Muslim incidents reported to Faith Matters' TELL MAMA project in the last fortnight, well above the normal average of four to eight a day.The £6m Bomber Command memorial in Green Park, London, unveiled last summer, has also been defaced for a second time in just over a week. The RAF Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) responsible for the upkeep of the structure which was funded by philanthropists and a public appeal would not confirm reports that the graffiti demanded the killers of Rigby should be hanged.
RAFBF said: "We are extremely disappointed and saddened that the Bomber Command memorial has once again been subjected to vandalism.RAFBF said: "We are extremely disappointed and saddened that the Bomber Command memorial has once again been subjected to vandalism.
"The RAF Benevolent Fund exists to provide welfare for past and present RAF personnel and their dependants who are in need; this latest attack will once again divert much needed resources away from our primary purpose.""The RAF Benevolent Fund exists to provide welfare for past and present RAF personnel and their dependants who are in need; this latest attack will once again divert much needed resources away from our primary purpose."
The charity added that the cost of removing last week's graffiti is expected to be about £10,000.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.