Three men sentenced over arson attack on Sussex mosque

James Everley, James Smith and Joshua Morris were sentenced to three years for the arson attack

Three men have been sentenced for an arson attack on a newly-renovated mosque in West Sussex.

James Everley, 20, of Crawley, James Smith, 20, of Burgess Hill, and Joshua Morris, 20, of Haywards Heath, were all sentenced to three years at a young offenders institute.

The fire at the mosque in Wivelsfield Road, Haywards Heath, was started at about 02:10 GMT on 13 February. Police believe the attack was a religiously-aggravated hate crime.

The men had pleaded guilty at Hove Crown Court to arson, theft of paraffin and a public order offence, which involved racially or religiously aggravated fear of violence.

Ch Insp Jon Hull, district commander for Mid Sussex, said: "The mosque was occupied at the time this fire was started and it could have had devastating consequences if it hadn't been put out quickly. Thankfully only damage was caused to the building.

"Everyone who lives, works or visits Sussex has a right to go about their lives without becoming the victim of a hate crime because of their disability, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity."

The mosque had been renovated and had reopened three months before the attack.

BBC

Mosque fire: Two on trial

TWO men are due to go on trial today after denying trying to burn down a £1.6 million mosque.

Simon Beech, aged 23, and Gareth Foster, aged 28, are accused of starting a fire at the new mosque, in Regent Road, Hanley, on December 3 last year. They both denied a charge of arson with intent to endanger life when they appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for an earlier hearing in June.

They have also pleaded not guilty to charges of arson being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed and damaged, and racially aggravated damage to the property.

The trial of Foster, of Hartshill Road, Stoke, and Beech, of Hilton Road, Hartshill, was expected to start at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court this afternoon.

This is Staffordshire

EDL Plan Arson Attack on LSX Camp

The English Defence League are planning an attack on the protesters at Occupy London Stock Exchange this Sunday, outside St Paul's Cathedral. London Division's Greg Bingham put a call out to fellow London racists calling for them to turn up to LSX and 'move' them. Bingham then went on to make threats about burning the tents down on his Facebook wall.

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They appear to want them moved because they are 'lefties' as they describes them. Another more sinister message appeared on Bingham's Facebook wall claiming he is going to comit an act of arson on the protester's camp and some threats to kill three people.

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Mick Wittman aka Gil Gould, a regular attendee at demonstrations in the South East also plans to attend.

As making threats of arson on the internet is a prosecutable offence, EDL News have informed the Metropolitan Police of his intentions.

EDL News

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Police confirm Shotton club fire being treated as arson

Wales Police has confirmed a fire at Shotton Lane Social Club - which was set to become an Islamic cultural centre - is being treated as suspicious.

Community leaders condemned what they believe is a 'hateful' attack by racist arsonists on the disused community club, which happened at around 4am on Friday (February 5). About 100 people in the surrounding area were forced to evacuate their homes as huge clouds of smoke and flames were blown toward properties by strong winds.

A joint police and fire service investigation has been launched, with CCTV footage studied and house-to-house enquires carried out. The cause of the blaze, which destroyed the empty building, has yet to be determined - but North Wales Police is treating the fire as suspicious.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Talbot said: "The site continues to be secured as a crime scene by police. A structural engineer has assessed the building over the weekend and it is unsafe for anyone to enter. Once the site is safe to enter further forensic examination will be carried out. I am, therefore unable to establish at this time whether deliberate ignition was the cause. However, it is suspected at this stage and the investigation is being treated as such."

Resident Joe McGarry, who lives very close to the smouldering wreckage of the club, said he and his family, including three young children, had to leave their home at about 4.30am. He said: "We heard one of the walls fall down and thought it was the council recycling van at first. Then we saw the flames out of our daughter’s bedroom window. It was terrible, like something out of a film. My wife said she had never been so scared in all her life, because it was so close to our house."

The McGarrys had to leave their home immediately and were sent to Deeside Leisure Centre, where Flintshire County Council had set up a rest centre. About 30 people set up home there temporarily until emergency crews gave the all-clear for them to return to their homes, which were left without electricity or hot water. The rest went to stay with family or friends.

Fire crews from Deeside, Flint, Mold, Rhyl, Holywell and Wrexham were called to battle the fire, which took about six hours to bring under control. A section of Shotton Lane had been closed to motorists and pedestrians because the gutted building is structurally unsafe.

The club, which closed in August, was the proposed site of an Islamic centre. Monchab Ali, chairman of the Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society and owner of the Bengal Dynasty restaurant in Queensferry, was looking to buy the venue for £150,000, but it is now understood the group will look elsewhere. The plans divided public opnion and there was a protest march in Shotton on January 22 by the right-wing English Defence League.

One resident near the club, who also had to leave her home, asked not to be named for fear of reprisals. She said: "We were woken up by our neighbour banging on the door saying we had to get out. We left in our pyjamas because there wasn’t time to take anything with us, and now we’ve got no heating or water. Whoever has done this has put everyone’s lives at risk without caring about what they are doing. It’s because of all the controversy that has been whipped up about the plans for the club. We had people from the English Defence League marching down our street claiming it was theirs, and they were not even from round here. We’ve even had leaflets through our door telling us not to go to the Bengal Dynasty. It’s absolutely disgusting and I hope they catch whoever is responsible."

Cllr John Beard, chairman of Shotton Town Council, was woken at 6am as people living next to the centre were being evacuated into his neighbour’s house further down the road. He said: "It’s such a shock. It’s a hateful thing to do, whoever did this has no respect for human life or the effect it could have on people. What’s so sad is no plans had even be submitted for the Islamic centre. Some people didn’t like the idea, some were OK with it, and some didn’t care. This is meant to be a democratic society where we discuss things. It doesn’t help to have a couple of yobs inflame the situation."

Superintendent Dave Owens, of North Wales Police, said: "Because of the windy weather the fire took hold very quickly and was difficult to bring under control. There were also compressed air cylinders in the club, which popped. It was very close to houses and if the wind had been blowing in another direction people could have lost their homes."

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said: "North Wales Police launched a thorough investigation. We are also supporting the community to provide reassurance. The dangerous condition of the building has held up the investigation and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined."

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 607 1002 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Flintshire Chronicle

Teenagers arrested after Stoke mosque set on fire

Police detain three men and a woman and describe arson attack as racially-motivated crime

Four teenagers were arrested yesterday after an arson attack on a Staffordshire mosque – described by police as a racially-motivated crime. The fire began at a newly-built mosque in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, at 6.30am. Police detained three men and a woman in their late teens. Firefighters were called after smoke was seen coming from the mosque. Police said they were investigating a link between the attack and damage to a nearby gas main.

The mosque was not seriously damaged. Chief inspector Wayne Jones said: "We are treating this as a racist attack on a religious building."

He added: "I am sure the community are as appalled as we are at this behaviour. I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. Local neighbourhood police officers are meeting with members of the community to keep them informed and to address their concerns and obvious anger about this criminal incident."

A police spokesman said that the four people who were in custody were to be questioned by detectives and police were reviewing CCTV footage from the area as well as making house-to-house inquiries. Mohammed Pervez, leader of Stoke-on-Trent council, called the attack an "irresponsible and reckless" act. "This is a very serious incident," he said. "City council officers are working closely with the police to assist them in their inquiries."

Pervez urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward as soon as possible.

Racial tensions in Stoke-on-Trent were inflamed after the city became one of two key battlegrounds for the British National Party during local council elections in May. The party currently has five city councillors. Ethnic minorities make up around 7% of the city's population.

Guardian

Cradley Heath mosque burnt to the ground by arsonists

Cradley Heath’s Muslim community is appealing for help after its mosque was burnt to the ground by arsonists

A fire engulfed the Cradley Heath Mosque and Islamic Centre in Plant Street on Boxing Day destroying the building and the religious countless books inside. It is the second time in five years that the building has been targeted by arsonists and police are hunting the culprits.

The West Midlands Fire Service first reported that the blaze on Plant Street had destroyed 'industrial units' in Plant Street but when the smoke cleared it became obvious the building was a mosque.

The mosque was a thriving part of the community with 400 worshippers using it and classes of children being taught there. The worshippers are now trying to find a new place to worship as the new Mosque they have being building alongside the old one will not be ready for use for several years.

Basharat Ali, secretary of the mosque and education centre, said: “This is not the first time we have been targeted, there was a similar attack four or five years ago. The building has been completely destroyed and all the books we use with the children have been damaged by water.”

He added: “The new building is under construction, it is a shell inside and it is due to open in a few years.”

Halesowen News