Muslim community slam ‘brazen’ attempted arson at Surrey Islamic centre

The Muslim community in Molesey has expressed its shock following an attempted arson at an Islamic Cultural Centre. A suspect had been captured on surveillance footage in the early hours of October 18 trying to set fire to a wooden door at the local community centre and mosque. The suspect allegedly set fire to what appeared to be an instant lighting BBQ bag, but the fire did not take hold and there was 'no significant damage or injuries'. Surrey Police [1] launched an investigation into the incident which happened at around 1.45am and a CCTV image of the suspect has been released.

A spokesperson for Molesey [2] Islamic Cultural Centre told SurreyLive: "The users and members of this community centre are deeply shocked and saddened by this brazen act of arson. Such actions not only endanger the safety and well-being of the community but also pose a threat to the valuable resources and services offered by the centre. We are extremely grateful that, in this instance, no one was harmed, and no property suffered substantial damage as a result of the arson attempt.

CCTV image of a man officers would like to speak to (Image: Surrey Police)

"The safety and security of our community and its facilities remain paramount, and we will cooperate fully with the Surrey Police in their investigation to bring the individual responsible to justice. We urge anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward and assist law enforcement in their efforts to maintain the well-being and security of our community." The centre was founded in 2001 and has been serving the local Muslim community for over 22 years.

The spokesperson added: "We would like to express our gratitude to the Surrey Police and the community for their support during this challenging time. We will continue to provide updates on this incident as the investigation progresses. "The safety of our community and its members is our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring that everyone can enjoy our community centre without fear or disruption."

Police are appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident. The force has urged anyone with information to come forward. Councillor for East Molesey Steve Bax has described the incident as 'appalling' adding: "This does not reflect our welcoming and inclusive community in Molesey.

I would encourage anyone with information to contact Surrey Police." Anyone with any information is urged to contact Surrey Police immediately via direct message, quoting PR/45230117900. One of the easiest ways to follow the news as a reader is through the SurreyLive newsletter [5], which is designed to bring the latest stories straight to your inbox.

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References

^ Surrey Police (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
^ Molesey (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
^ Arson attempt at Surrey Islamic centre as police ask for help to identify suspect (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
^ Runfold cyclist dies after white van crash on A31 (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
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