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Sweden's largest Shia mosque burned down in suspected arson attack | Sweden's largest Shia mosque burned down in suspected arson attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sweden’s largest Shia mosque has been partially destroyed by fire in what police are treating as an arson attack. | Sweden’s largest Shia mosque has been partially destroyed by fire in what police are treating as an arson attack. |
Police spokesman Lars Bystrom said the fire, in the Stockholm suburb of Jakobsberg, appeared to have been “lit from the outside". | Police spokesman Lars Bystrom said the fire, in the Stockholm suburb of Jakobsberg, appeared to have been “lit from the outside". |
No one was injured in the blaze at the Imam Ali Islamic Centre on Sunday evening, which caused major damage to the facade. | No one was injured in the blaze at the Imam Ali Islamic Centre on Sunday evening, which caused major damage to the facade. |
Photos showed the charred exterior of the warehouse building. | |
The mosque hosted around 500 people at a celebration earlier in the evening but there were only a handful of people inside at the time the fire broke out. | The mosque hosted around 500 people at a celebration earlier in the evening but there were only a handful of people inside at the time the fire broke out. |
A police statement said forensic tests were being carried out. | A police statement said forensic tests were being carried out. |
Mosque spokesman Akil Zahiri told Swedish media he was "very troubled" by the suspected attack as the mosque "felt like another home”. | Mosque spokesman Akil Zahiri told Swedish media he was "very troubled" by the suspected attack as the mosque "felt like another home”. |
“This is the largest Shia mosque in Sweden, with thousands of members, and there are already dozens of members here on the spot right now,” he said. | “This is the largest Shia mosque in Sweden, with thousands of members, and there are already dozens of members here on the spot right now,” he said. |
“They are very worried. I feel terrified, stressed and sad.” | “They are very worried. I feel terrified, stressed and sad.” |
As migrants have arrived in Sweden, xenophobic attacks have been increasing, including 112 fires last year at refugee reception centres, most of them arson. | |
Swedish authorities are wary of possible reprisals after a man rammed a hijacked truck into a busy pedestrian shopping centre last month, killing five people. | Swedish authorities are wary of possible reprisals after a man rammed a hijacked truck into a busy pedestrian shopping centre last month, killing five people. |
An Uzbek whose asylum request was rejected is being held as the main suspect. | An Uzbek whose asylum request was rejected is being held as the main suspect. |
However, Isis has also targeted Shia sites in several countries. Last year the group claimed responsibility for a fire at a small Shia mosque in Malmo in southern Sweden. | However, Isis has also targeted Shia sites in several countries. Last year the group claimed responsibility for a fire at a small Shia mosque in Malmo in southern Sweden. |
Last December, a 16-year-old boy was charged with arson after a fire caused £6m worth of damage at a mosque in south London which describes itself as the largest in western Europe. | Last December, a 16-year-old boy was charged with arson after a fire caused £6m worth of damage at a mosque in south London which describes itself as the largest in western Europe. |
Seventy fire-fighters tackled the blaze in September 2015 at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden. | Seventy fire-fighters tackled the blaze in September 2015 at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden. |
Additional reporting agencies | Additional reporting agencies |
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