Emergency services were called to a fire at the community mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, England, this evening. Crews from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and have since stood down after bringing the blaze under control.
Shocking footage shared with Sussex News appears to show the building being deliberately set alight. The video shows a man wearing a face covering placing some sort of flammable material at the entrance to the mosque before stepping back and igniting it. Flames then quickly spread through part of the building. The footage also shows the dramatic escape of a male who was inside at the time, managing to get out safely as the fire erupted.
The building, which was previously a social club, has been taken over by a local group and is now used as a community space as well as a mosque. It is open to all members of the community.
At this stage, there are no reports of injuries, and the extent of the damage is not yet known.
A spokesperson for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that firefighters acted swiftly to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties.
Sussex Police have been made aware of the footage and are expected to issue an update as investigations continue. Officers are likely to carry out a full forensic examination of the scene to establish the cause and circumstances of the fire.
Residents reported hearing sirens and seeing smoke rising from the site shortly after the incident began, with many expressing shock and concern on social media.
Anyone with additional information or footage that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Sussex Police immediately.
Sussex News will provide further updates as more details emerge.
Video Credit: Peacehaven Mosque
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