Two Men Charged for Arson Attack on Stoke Mosque
Categories: Latest News
Friday March 25 2011
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The Staffordshire Sentinel and BBC News report that two men are due to appear in court today, having been charged with arson and intent to endanger life after an arson attack on a newly-built mosque in Stoke-on-Trent last December. |
From the Staffordshire Sentinel:
“Simon Beech, aged 23, and Gareth Foster, aged 28, both from Stoke-on-Trent, have been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following the blaze at the mosque in Regent Road, Hanley on December 3.
“Ch Insp Wayne Jones said: “I hope the people of Stoke-on-Trent welcome the news that two people have been charged in connection with this matter.
“‘We now need to allow the criminal justice system to run its course.
“‘I want to thank the local community affected by this incident for their continued support and patience throughout the investigation.
“‘Following the fire, the community came together to support each other, and the police investigation, and as a result I believe we now have a stronger community.’
“The fire caused structural damage to the £1.6 million mosque which is still being built and it was feared the repair bill will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“The entire cost will have to be found by the Muslim community as the building was not insured.”
Tristram Hunt, MP for Stoke-on-Trent, said at the time of the attack that he feared the involvement of far-right extremists. He added that the “political decline of the BNP in the city… may have fuelled a rise in support for more extreme right-wing organisations, such as the English Defence League.”