Police Issue Photos of Place of Worship Arson Persons of Interest
Police officials looking into a report of alleged fire-setting at a place of worship in the area have made public photographs of a pair of persons they are seeking to identify.
Firefighters were called to the mosque on the location in the town at around 21:50 in the evening on the weekend.
Although no-one was injured in the incident, the front entrance of the facility and a vehicle parked in the vicinity were damaged per investigators, who are treating it as a hate crime.
Senior Officer the lead detective said: "It constituted an outrageous and irresponsible act which we understand will have caused many people feeling more vulnerable."
Published pictures show one man clad in a recognizable dark outer layer with a brand name logo in white on the chest.
Another is clad in vibrant crimson mitts.
"Authorities are treating the incident as an intentional blaze aimed to risk harm and are proceeding to pursue a variety of investigative paths to determine the individuals behind this," remarked Det Insp Patch.
Authorities have provided an boosted law enforcement visibility at the location following the occurrence, along with supplementary monitoring occurring at other places of worship around the area to offer comfort, the force announced.
A volunteer at the mosque, who requested not to be named, shared reporters that two people tried to access through the main entrance, only to discover it locked.
Subsequently, they poured a substance at the entrance and adjacent to a vehicle positioned outside, which was set alight, he added.
"It could have been a fatality," the individual commented, adding that two people inside the mosque succeeded to leave safely.
Appealing to people to refuse discord, a representative for the facility expressed: "This hateful act is not indicative of our society."
"Peacehaven has always been a location of goodwill [and] consideration."
The official thanked the first responders for their "prompt reaction" and all those who had reached out in solidarity.
"The assistance bolsters us and reminds us that compassion and empathy will always defeat prejudice and conflict."
There is increased attention about protection at religious sites after the incident outside a worship center in the location on recently, in which members of the Jewish community were fatally injured.
The individual involved, who was shot dead at the scene, has been named as an individual aged 35 the perpetrator, a resident of Syrian descent.
The forum chair, leader of a local organization, stated all members was "extremely disturbed and appalled" by the situations in the two areas.
He noted that, without considering whether attendees were of Jewish faith, Christian, Hindu or Islamic faithful, the "least expected outcome" they should foresee was that an individual would try to injure them.
"My desire is that religious figures and additional individuals from the community will unite to work towards calm," he shared with the press.
"We've got to... stand together at this moment of significant necessity."
Campaign group the local group said the situation had not come out of a "vacuum".
"During the past several weeks now, biased organizations... have been stirring up an atmosphere of hostility and intimidation against individuals of color around the area with symbols, decals and racist graffiti," the group stated.
The elected official, legislator for the district, called the act on the mosque "reprehensible".
He stated: "It is fortunate that there were no casualties is purely by chance.
"Such aggression and prejudice has no place in our peaceful, inclusive area. Authorities will eliminate it and we stand in solidarity with the victims."
The council leader, head of Lewes District Council, added Islamic community members in the area had the "unwavering support and solidarity" of the council.
"Know for certain, we support fully with everyone affected," she expressed.