- Emergency services were alerted to a fire at Northbrooks Mosque in Harlow on August 8, shortly after 9:30 pm.
- Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the deliberate fire incident at the mosque.
Authorities responded to a fire at Northbrooks Mosque on Harberts Road in Harlow, summoning emergency services shortly after 9:30 pm on the night of August 8. There were not any reported injuries, as firefighters acted swiftly to contain the resulting damage.
“We are absolutely devastated and shocked,” said mosque secretary Jamal Uddin. “We have been here for a long, long time and we have never had anything like this happen to us before.” Mr Uddin said that the blaze had caused harm to curtains and carpets within the premises. He went on to say that 700 people gathered at the mosque throughout the week and that as many as 300 attended Friday prayers.
Local authorities are treating the incident as a case of racially aggravated arson, prompting an investigation by the Harlow CID.
In connection with the investigation, two teenagers were taken into custody on suspicion of arson and were subsequently questioned on the following day.
The local community experienced a heightened police presence as part of the immediate response to the incident. Chief Inspector Paul Austin, the commander of Harlow district, highlighted ongoing communication with faith and community leaders to ensure safety and reassurance within the community.
Dan Swords, the leader of Harlow Council, firmly condemned the incident. He said, “I am shocked and appalled to hear about this incident. Whatever the motives are for this, we will not tolerate any attacks on our communities and as a town we stand united,”
Essex Police urged individuals with relevant information to get in touch through various channels, including online reporting, Live Chat service, or the traditional 101 number, citing incident number 1253 on August 8.
For those seeking to contribute anonymously, Crimestoppers, an independent charity, provides the option to do so through their website or by calling 0800 555 111.
