UK police probing mosque fire as hate crime, ask public for help identifying suspects

Police in southern England say they are investigating a suspected arson at a mosque as a hate crime, just days after a fatal attack on a synagogue.

Officers were called to the incident at the mosque in the southern coast town of Peacehaven late on Saturday.

While no one was injured, the blaze caused damage to the mosque’s front entrance and a vehicle parked outside.

In the wake of the attack, Sussex Police shared images of two masked men dressed in dark clothing, and appealed for help from the public to identify them.

“One wore a distinctive black jacket with a Pre London logo in white on the chest. The second wore bright red gloves,” they note.

A mosque in East Sussex was set on fire last night while two worshipers were inside.

Thugs in balaclavas poured liquid at the mosque entrance and near a parked car before setting it alight.

One of many mosques to have been attacked since July this year.pic.twitter.com/EgRMWZ1bNG

— Dilly Hussain (@DillyHussain88) October 5, 2025

Detective Inspector Gavin Patch branded the fire an “appalling and reckless attack which we know will have left many people feeling less safe.”

“We are treating this as an arson [attack] with intent to endanger life and are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry to identify those responsible,” said Patch.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood calls the fire “deeply concerning.”

“Attacks against Britain’s Muslims are attacks against all Britons and this country itself,” adds Mahmood on social media.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, also condemns the mosque fire, appealing for greater solidarity.

“Every faith community has the right to worship free from fear. Our country is better than this,” Rosenberg says.

“Over recent weeks there has been a lot of focus on how we have become a divided kingdom. But we are the United Kingdom. And we need to move forward against hate together.”