Suspected arson attack at East Sussex mosque investigated as hate crime

A suspected arson attack on a mosque in an English seaside town is being investigated by police as a hate crime.

The front entrance to the mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, was damaged and a car parked outside was entirely burnt out after the incident on Saturday night, which has been condemned by political figures and faith groups.

No one was injured, but images from the scene showed large flames and a man who was inside the building making what appeared to be a narrow escape.

Other footage showed what appeared to be two masked individuals pouring liquid around the entrance before the fire.

Sussex police said they were called to reports of an arson attack in Phyllis Avenue shortly before 10pm on Saturday.

Police said accelerant was sprayed at the entrance and then the fire was started, which spread to the car.

Images were also issued from CCTV footage of two people in balaclavas who investigators want to identify, with police asking anyone who has information to call 999 and quote “Operation Spey”.

Chris Ward, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said he had spoken to police and it was “purely by chance” that there had been no injuries.

Paying tribute to response of East Sussex fire and rescue service, he added: “This violence and hatred has no place in our peaceful, tolerant local community.”

The Green party’s co-deputy leader, Mothin Ali, said police needed to “urgently seek clarity” on the motives of the attack and whether it also constituted an act of terrorism.

A spokesperson for the mosque said: “While the incident has caused damage to our building and vehicles, we are profoundly grateful that no one was injured.

“This hateful act does not represent our community or our town. Peacehaven has always been a place of kindness, respect and mutual support, and we will continue to embody those values. We ask everyone to reject division and respond to hate with unity and compassion.”

Sussex police said on Sunday evening: “This is not being treated as a terror-related incident at this time.”

They have released images of two people they wish to identify in relation to the investigation. The photos show two masked individuals, with one wearing a distinctive black jacket with a Pre London logo in white on the chest, and the other wearing bright red gloves.

Appeals have been made by the police for anyone with information or footage captured on CCTV, dashcam, doorbell or mobile phone to contact the police.

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.”

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the attack had followed what it described as “a disturbing pattern of violence and intimidation”, adding that an imam was stabbed last week in Hounslow, west London, and mosques had faced bomb threats and coordinated hate campaigns.

Wajid Akhter, the MCB secretary-general, said: “These incidents do not occur in a vacuum. This comes as media and political figures escalate collective blame and deliberate misrepresentation of Muslim communities, their causes and their faith.”

The incident was condemned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which said: “Every faith community has the right to worship free from fear. Our country is better than this.”