Police say fire damaged front of mosque and a vehicle parked outside it
\n London
\nPolice said on Sunday they were investigating a suspected arson at a mosque in southern England as a \u201chate crime\u201d, days after a fatal attack on a synagogue.
\nOfficers were called to the incident at the mosque in the south coast town of Peacehaven late on Saturday.
\nNo one was injured, but the blaze caused damage to the mosque\u2019s front entrance and a vehicle parked outside.
\nThe fire follows Thursday\u2019s attack on a synagogue in northern Manchester in which two people died and three others were seriously injured.
\nCNN quoted a volunteer mosque manager, speaking on condition of anonymity, who said that two individuals wearing balaclavas tried to force open the mosque\u2019s door on Saturday night before pouring gasoline on the steps and setting it on fire.
\nHe added that the mosque\u2019s chairman and a fellow worshipper were inside at the time. They fled outside upon hearing a loud bang. However, the manager was not sure if the suspected arsonists knew people were inside.
\n\u201cThey could have easily died,\u201d the manager said, adding, \u201cThese people came with full intent to cause maximum damage.\u201d
\nThe small mosque has been operational for four years. On the night of the incident, 10 to 15 worshippers had gathered for evening prayers at 8:15pm local time.
\nThe police said the fire damaged the front of the mosque and a vehicle that was parked outside it.
\nThe manager said it was the mosque chairman\u2019s car; he works as a taxi driver to support his family. \u201cUnfortunately, just a shell of his vehicle is left.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Police say fire damaged front of mosque and a vehicle parked outside it London Police said on Sunday they were investigating a suspected arson at a mosque in southern England as a \u201chate crime\u201d, days after a fatal attack on a synagogue. Officers were called to the incident at the mosque in the south coast […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":506950,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-506930","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n