Mosque and Gurdwara in UK set on fire in arson attacks

LONDON: A well-liked Gurdwara and a Mosque were set on fireplace in arson assaults on the identical time in English city of Leeds with the police treating them as hate crimes, in step with media report on Wednesday.

The Jamia Masjid Abu Huraira Mosque in Hardy Street, Beeston, was once attacked, at the side of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara in Lady Pit Lane, the BBC reported.

The main door of the mosque in south of town centre have been set on fireplace at about three.45am (native time) yesterday. A couple of minutes later, the door of the Gurdwara was once also set on fireplace, the report stated.

The Sikh Press Association stated a bottle stuffed with petrol have been set alight on the doorstep of the Gurdwara, triggering a smoke alarm. Residents referred to as the fire brigade and the police and the fire was once temporarily handled, they stated.

Detective Inspector Richard Holmes, of Leeds District CID, stated: "We are treating both these incidents as linked given the closeness of the locations and the similar times that they have occurred."

"While our investigation is still at a relatively early stage, we do believe these premises have been specifically targeted as places of worship and we are treating both incidents as arsons and hate crimes."

"We are currently carrying out extensive enquiries, including checks on CCTV in both areas, and we would like to hear from anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity or seen any person or vehicles in the areas around the time these incidents have occurred."

"Clearly we will always treat incidents of this nature very seriously and will be doing everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice," he added.

In a observation, representatives of the Gurdwara stated: "We have attended a police emergency assembly and have been confident by means of the manager of Police that they're doing all they may be able to to catch the criminals and can upload further police patrols in the house.

Inspector Ian O'Brien, who heads neighbourhood policing for south Leeds, stated: "These incidents will purpose an comprehensible stage of shock in each the Muslim and Sikh communities on this house and we are working closely with key representatives from those communities to reassure them.

"Although it appears both locations have been specifically targeted as places of worship for these communities, there is nothing at this stage to suggest they are part of any wider pattern."

"We have increased our patrols of the area to provide visible reassurance to people living there and will continue to keep key community representatives informed as the investigation develops."

"Hate crimes that target particular communities and have the potential to cause divisions and tensions cannot and will not be tolerated and we will continue to do everything we can to find those responsible and support and reassure the communities affected."

Nadeem Murtuja, interim director of Just Yorkshire which promotes racial justice, human rights and equality, stated such "acts of hate" were being concerned.

"Mosques, gurdwaras and other places of worship repeatedly open doors to people of faith, no faith and all diversities to improve understanding, yet despite these positive actions, hate crimes continue to rise and the police continue to provide support and assurance," he stated.