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| Grimsby mosque hit by suspected arson attack | Grimsby mosque hit by suspected arson attack |
| (4 months later) | |
| The chairman of a mosque in Grimsby which was targeted by arsonists on Sunday night has described the attack as attempted murder. | The chairman of a mosque in Grimsby which was targeted by arsonists on Sunday night has described the attack as attempted murder. |
| Two people were arrested by police patrolling around the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre, which was attacked despite an increased police presence following another attack on the complex three days ago. | Two people were arrested by police patrolling around the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre, which was attacked despite an increased police presence following another attack on the complex three days ago. |
| The incident, which appears to have been the most serious attack yet on the Muslim community amid fears of a backlash following the killing of drummer Lee Rigby, comes at a time of increased activity by far right groups, including the English Defence League. The group was due to stage a demonstration close to Downing Street on Monday. | The incident, which appears to have been the most serious attack yet on the Muslim community amid fears of a backlash following the killing of drummer Lee Rigby, comes at a time of increased activity by far right groups, including the English Defence League. The group was due to stage a demonstration close to Downing Street on Monday. |
| Humberside police said a fire was started at the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre on Weelsby Road, shortly before 10pm on Sunday. | Humberside police said a fire was started at the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre on Weelsby Road, shortly before 10pm on Sunday. |
| The mosque's chairman, Diler Gharib, told the Grimsby Telegraph: "We had just finished our prayers and were discussing how to thank our neighbours for the support they have shown us over the past few days when we heard a bang and saw fire coming under the door. | The mosque's chairman, Diler Gharib, told the Grimsby Telegraph: "We had just finished our prayers and were discussing how to thank our neighbours for the support they have shown us over the past few days when we heard a bang and saw fire coming under the door. |
| "I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out and then two more petrol bombs hit the fire escape and the bin so I had to put those out too." | "I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out and then two more petrol bombs hit the fire escape and the bin so I had to put those out too." |
| CCTV footage showed three petrol bombs being thrown over the gate of the building, according to Sky News, which was told by the mosque imam, Ahmad Sabik, that it was an attempt to murder. | CCTV footage showed three petrol bombs being thrown over the gate of the building, according to Sky News, which was told by the mosque imam, Ahmad Sabik, that it was an attempt to murder. |
| "We are now worried about our families, our children, our place of worship," he said. "Petrol bombs were prepared in advance and some chemical materials were used." | "We are now worried about our families, our children, our place of worship," he said. "Petrol bombs were prepared in advance and some chemical materials were used." |
| A statement from Humberside police said it was too early to speculate why the fire was started, but added: "The force is currently aware of a number of messages which have been posted on social networking sites by a small minority of individuals. | A statement from Humberside police said it was too early to speculate why the fire was started, but added: "The force is currently aware of a number of messages which have been posted on social networking sites by a small minority of individuals. |
| "These messages appear to be an attempt to incite trouble by posting messages inviting people to assemble and cause trouble at particular locations. Those people should be aware that we are monitoring these sites in Humberside and we will take action against those intent on attempting to incite violence or post messages of a racial nature." | "These messages appear to be an attempt to incite trouble by posting messages inviting people to assemble and cause trouble at particular locations. Those people should be aware that we are monitoring these sites in Humberside and we will take action against those intent on attempting to incite violence or post messages of a racial nature." |
| The Islamic centre in Grimsby is part of a complex that includes a mosque which was targeted by youths last week. | The Islamic centre in Grimsby is part of a complex that includes a mosque which was targeted by youths last week. |
| Eleven teenagers were arrested after that incident, which happened after a party spiralled out of control, police said. The 16- and 17-year-olds were arrested on Thursday. | Eleven teenagers were arrested after that incident, which happened after a party spiralled out of control, police said. The 16- and 17-year-olds were arrested on Thursday. |
| Elswhere, two men have been charged with racially aggravated public order offences following a protest in Walsall over the weekend. | Elswhere, two men have been charged with racially aggravated public order offences following a protest in Walsall over the weekend. |
| A 22-year-old man from Walsall and a 28-year-old from Wolverhampton will appear before magistrates on 18 June after an EDL protest in the town centre on Saturday afternoon, a West Midlands police spokeswoman said. | A 22-year-old man from Walsall and a 28-year-old from Wolverhampton will appear before magistrates on 18 June after an EDL protest in the town centre on Saturday afternoon, a West Midlands police spokeswoman said. |
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