Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as ‘hate crime’
A fire at a mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, is being investigated as a potential hate crime, police confirmed. The incident, which occurred [date not specified in original text], involved a liquid being poured at the mosque’s entrance and near a parked car, which was subsequently set alight. Authorities are appealing for CCTV, doorbell, and dashcam footage from the area.
According to a volunteer who wished to remain anonymous, two individuals attempted to enter the mosque through the front door but found it locked. They then ignited the fire,narrowly avoiding potential tragedy as two people inside were able to escape.”It could have been murder,” the volunteer told the BBC.
Police describe the examination as “fast-moving” and have increased their presence in the area, with additional patrols at other places of worship across the county to provide reassurance. Video circulating on social media appears to show two figures in balaclavas approaching the mosque before a large blaze erupts, tho the BBC has not yet verified the footage.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns regarding the safety of religious institutions following a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday. in that attack, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, shot and killed two Jewish people before being fatally shot by police.
