2 teens arrested over suspected arson at London mosque
Some 70 firefighters battled a massive blaze that damaged the administration buildings at one of Europe’s largest mosques
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
LONDON — British police have arrested two teenagers on suspicion of arson after a fire damaged one of Europe’s biggest mosques.
London’s Metropolitan Police said a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old were detained Sunday.
London Fire Brigade said 70 firefighters battled for several hours on Saturday to extinguish the fire at the Baitul Futuh mosque, which damaged administration buildings but not the main worship areas.
The mosque and the community center in south London’s Morden neighborhood were evacuated safely.
???????? #Morden #Mosque, largest in Europe: structure fire, heavily involved RT: @Doggy_Boutique: Mosque on fire in morden pic.twitter.com/r1r87Dh4Yx
— Emergency-Life.com (@Emergency_Life) September 26, 2015
One man was taken to a nearby hospital suffering from smoke inhalation in the blaze.
Photos shared on social media showed smoke billowing up from the mosque from kilometers away as emergency crews worked to contain the flames.
Mosque on fire in morden pic.twitter.com/G0GI4VfqUv
— Doggy Boutique & Grooming (@Doggy_Boutique) September 26, 2015
The mosque was completed in 2003 and serves the Ahmadi community, a minority Muslim sect founded in 19th-century India. The mosque’s website says the 5.2-acre (2.1-hectare) site can hold more than 10,000 worshippers.
The Times of Israel Community.