UK Mosque Set Ablaze With 2 People Inside In Suspected Hate Crime

Last Updated:October 05, 2025, 16:11 IST

A UK mosque was set ablaze with two people still inside in a suspected arson attack that police are treating as a hate crime.

The police are investigating the arson as a suspected hate crime (X)

In a shocking incident, a mosque in the United Kingdom’s Peacehaven, near Brighton, was set ablaze with two people still inside in a suspected arson attack that police are treating as a hate crime.

Fire crews were called to the mosque on Phyllis Avenue in Peacehaven at about 9:50 pm (local time) on Saturday, CNN reported.

According to a voluntary mosque manager, two individuals wearing balaclavas attempted to force open the mosque’s door before pouring gasoline on the steps and setting it alight.

It is the latest violent incident to be reported in a politically charged British summer, during which incidents of Islamophobic and antisemitic hate have remained high, and comes just days after a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester.

As per the report, the mosque’s chairman and a fellow worshipper, both in their 60s, were having tea inside when they heard a loud bang outside and fled the building as flames curled across the main entrance.

“They could have easily died," the manager told the news outlet, saying “these people came with full intent to cause maximum damage."

“The chairman was shaking the whole time, and a neighbor came out onto the street crying," he said, adding, “Everyone is scared. If someone was willing to do this, we don’t know what’s next."

It is not known if the suspected arsonists knew people were inside at the time.

Footage from the mosque’s door camera showed two people in balaclavas arriving at the entrance a short time later, pulling the door handle and pushing the door several times

Sussex Police said that although no one was injured in the incident, the front entrance of the building and a vehicle parked outside were damaged.

“We understand the concerns this has caused within the community, and the impact that will be felt by the Muslim community as a result," Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna was quoted by the BBC as saying.

Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes district, James MacCleary, condemned the incident on X.

“Appalling to hear about this fire at the mosque in Peacehaven. It is used by my constituents and is an important part of the local community. Police are treating it as a hate crime," he wrote.

Earlier in August, the mosque was targeted twice overnight with eggs thrown at the building and people have shouted curse words and racial slurs when passing by, the manager said.

“But we never expected an attack on this level," the manager said. “The community right now is on their toes. They feel unsafe, they are paranoid. There is a lot going on right now."

There is renewed focus on 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.

(With inputs from CNN)

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