Manchester mosque 'gutted' by fire in suspected arson attack

'Almost everything we have is gone. It was burnt to ashes.'

Eyewitnesses said the fire had spread rapidly through the building (Google Maps)

A Manchester mosque has been set on fire in what is believed to be an Islamophobic arson attack.

The Manchester Nasfat Islamic Centre, in the north-east of the city, suffered “significant” damage after it was engulfed in flames shortly before midnight on Sunday.

Thirty firefighters tried to stop the blaze but witnesses said the building had been “gutted”. No one is thought to have been killed or injured in the fire.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “We were called at 11.43pm to Droylsden Road in Newton Heath to reports of a fire. We sent five pumps to the scene and an investigation is now underway.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) added: “The fire is being treated as suspicious and a joint investigation has been launched by GMP and GMFRS.”

Forensic officers are on the scene and an investigation to establish the cause of the blaze is underway.

If confirmed as arson, it would not be the first time the mosque has been attacked. In 2014, a minibus used by young and old members of the community to get to and from prayer services was set on fire.

In recent months people were also caught urinating outside the mosque and two pig heads were thrown into the building during services.

Shamusideen Oladimeji, the mosque’s spokesman, said he believed the latest attack was arson.

"It has been seriously damaged”, he said of the building. “The police won't let us in.

"We don't know why this happened. We try to be good neighbours and we try to be involved with our local community."

Monsurat Adebanjo-Aremu, the branch secretary of the mosque, said the building had been “gutted” by the fire.

“Almost everything we have is gone”, she told the Manchester Evening News. “It was burnt to ashes. All the classrooms we have for the children have been set ablaze.

“It’s quite unfortunate that we are part of the community and somebody is still trying to do this to us.”

Eyewitnesses said the fire had spread rapidly and was the worst attack they had seen on the Islamic centre.

Dale Corrigan, who lives opposite the mosque, said: “It spread really quickly, it started on the right-hand side of the building and went to the roof and there was really thick black smoke. I went round and started waking people up to let them know.

“I rang the fire service but they said they were already on their way - they got there really quickly, the police were there within two minutes too.

“There has been trouble at the centre before, but I’ve never seen anything this bad.”