Investigation launched into fires at mosque and temple in Beeston
Police are treating the early hours attacks as arson and hate crime
Last updated 5th Jun 2018
An investigation's been launched after arson attacks on a mosque and a Sikh temple at Beeston in Leeds.
Police were called to the Jamia Masjid Abu Huraira Mosque in Hardy Street at 3.42 this morning where the main door had been deliberately set alight.
"Hate crimes that target particular communities and have the potential to cause divisions and tensions cannot and will not be tolerated": Inspector Ian O'Brien, West Yorkshire Police
Firefighters at the scene stopped the flames from spreading and the damage was confined to the door and surround - it appears that a flammable liquid had been used to start the fire.
At 4.19am staff from the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara in nearby Lady Pit Lane reported that someone had done the same there around the same time.
The fire there has set-off a smoke alarm and been put out quickly causing minor damage to the door and a pillar.
DI Richard Holmes from Leeds District CID said, "We are treating both these incidents as linked given the closeness of the locations and the similar times that they have occurred.
"While our investigation is still at a relatively early stage, we do believe these premises have been specifically targeted as places of worship and we are treating both incidents as arsons and hate crimes.
"We are currently carrying out extensive enquiries, including checks on CCTV in both areas, and we would like to hear from anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity or seen any person or vehicles in the areas around the time these incidents have occurred.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who has any other information that could assist the investigation.
“Clearly we will always treat incidents of this nature very seriously and will be doing everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Inspector Ian O’Brien who is head of neighbourhood policing for south Leeds said, "These incidents will cause an understandable level of concern in both the Muslim and Sikh communities in this area and we are working closely with key representatives from those communities to reassure them.
“Although it appears both locations have been specifically targeted as places of worship for these communities, there is nothing at this stage to suggest they are part of any wider pattern.
“We have increased our patrols of the area to provide visible reassurance to people living there and will continue to keep key community representatives informed as the investigation develops.
"Hate crimes that target particular communities and have the potential to cause divisions and tensions cannot and will not be tolerated and we will continue to do everything we can to find those responsible and support and reassure the communities affected.”