In what is believed to be a racist attack, the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre, which is listed as a mosque in Muswell Hill London, was burned down to the ground early this morning. The center is primarily used by the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association, according to the BBC. Fire crews arrived at the center at around 3:15 A.M. local time. The fire is currently being investigated by police as an act of arson. Luckily no one was hurt.
Here is what you need to know:
1. A Firebomb is Suspected to be the Start of the Fire
Police are investigating a fire which caused extensive damage to a community centre in Muswell Hill in the early hours of today
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 5, 2013
The cause of the fire in Muswell Hill is currently under investigation and it is being treated as suspicious at this stage.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 5, 2013
The London Evening Standard is reporting that there are fears the Center was not only deliberately set on fire, it was firebombed. Scotland Yard has deemed the fire suspicious and recently announced that the Counter Terrorism Command was taking lead of the investigation.
2. The Building is Completely Destroyed
According to BBC, the building has sustained heavy damage and partially collapsed during the fire. The Standard describes the damage done to the center as “completely destroyed.”
"London mosque destroyed by fire" If Muslims had burnt a church it would be described as an act of terrorism pic.twitter.com/V9U9vzrMek
— Mohammed Abdul Azeez (@wahedazeez) June 5, 2013
3. ‘EDL’ Was Spray Painted on the Side of the Building
According to many eye witness accounts, the letters “EDL” were spray painted on the side of the building. “EDL” stands for the English Defense League a far-right racist group known in the passed for carrying out violent attacks against immigrants . The BBC reports that correspondent Kurt Barling saw, “freshly sprayed racist graffiti on the building,” but we do not have confirmation if “EDL” is the only thing painted on the building.
4. This Could be an Attempt at Revenge for the Woolwhich Attacks
There is concern that the attack could be motivated by a need for vengeance among the radical right in the wake of the Woolwhich attacks. The attack occurred around two weeks ago when two men attacked a British soldier on the street and hacked him to death with machetes. The attack was declared an act of terror because the two assailants claimed their motive was retribution for the British army’s presence in the Middle East. The attack has sparked a large backlash from the EDL and other racist, islamophobic, and anti-immigrant groups.
5. This Marks an Upswing in Islamophobia in England
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According to The Guardian 623 anti-Muslim incidents have been recorded since March of 2012.
