A mosque in Peacehaven, near Brighton, was set on fire in a suspected arson attack on Saturday night, with two people still inside at the time. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime amid growing concerns over rising Islamophobic and antisemitic attacks across the UK.
According to a mosque manager who spoke to CNN, two masked individuals poured gasoline over the mosque’s entrance and a car outside before setting them alight. The chairman of the mosque and another worshipper, both in their 60s, were inside having tea when they heard a loud bang and escaped as flames engulfed the doorway.
“They could have easily died,” the manager said. “These people came with full intent to cause maximum damage.”
Emergency services arrived shortly before 10 p.m. and managed to control the blaze. Although no one was injured, the mosque’s entrance and the chairman’s vehicle were completely destroyed. “Unfortunately, just a shell of his vehicle is left,” the manager added.
Footage from the mosque’s door camera reportedly shows two individuals in balaclavas attempting to force open the door before igniting the fire. Police have increased patrols in the area and are providing reassurance to local communities.
Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary condemned the attack on social media, calling it “appalling” and affirming that the mosque “is an important part of the local community.”
The mosque had previously been targeted with eggs and racial slurs last year, but members say this latest incident has left them feeling unsafe and anxious.
This attack follows the killing of two Jewish worshippers outside a Manchester synagogue on Thursday, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to warn that hatred “is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again.”
