Manchester mosque severely damaged in suspected arson attack

Categories: Latest News
Tuesday July 18 2017
The Telegraph reports that the Manchester Nasfat Islamic Centre was severely damaged by a blaze late on Sunday, with three classrooms described as gutted and the main area of worship with “severe” damage.
The incident is being treated as suspicious and an investigation is under way, Greater Manchester Police said.
The mosque, in the Newton heath area of the city, has been previously targeted as Monsurat Adebanjo-Aremu, branch secretary of the centre, told the Manchester Evening News that men have urinated outside the building and two pigs’ heads were once thrown into the mosque during worship.
Approximately 30 fire fighters were on the scene, in Droylsden Road, at around 11:40pm.
The building was empty at the time and no one reported injuries.
A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Police said: “The fire is being treated as suspicious and a joint investigation has been launched by GMP and GMFRS.”
Three years ago, the mosque minibus was set on fire by suspected arsonists.