Hate Crime in the UK: Mosque Set Ablaze in Peacehaven as Tensions Rise Over Religious Attacks
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
In another disturbing incident of religious violence in the United Kingdom, a mosque in Peacehaven, near Brighton, was set ablaze late Saturday night while two people were still inside. Authorities have described the incident as a suspected arson attack and a hate crime, intensifying concerns over the rise of Islamophobic and antisemitic acts across the country.
Flames Engulf Mosque as Two Men Escape
Akahi News gathered that the fire broke out around 10 p.m. local time when two masked individuals attempted to force open the door of the mosque before pouring petrol on the entrance and setting it alight. The two men inside — the mosque’s chairman and another worshipper, both in their 60s — were having tea when they heard a loud bang and fled the building as flames spread across the doorway.
“They could have easily died,” said a voluntary mosque manager who spoke to CNN, describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to cause “maximum damage.”
According to him, “The chairman was shaking the whole time, and a neighbour came out onto the street crying. Everyone is scared. If someone was willing to do this, we don’t know what’s next.”
No Casualties, But Heavy Emotional Toll
Emergency crews swiftly responded and managed to extinguish the blaze before it spread further. Fortunately, no one was injured, but both the mosque’s entrance and a vehicle parked outside — belonging to the chairman — were destroyed.
“The chairman works as a taxi driver and relied on the car as his livelihood,” the manager said. “Unfortunately, just a shell of his vehicle is left.”
Police have assured residents that the incident is being treated with the utmost seriousness. Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna of Sussex Police confirmed that increased patrols had been deployed around the mosque and other religious centres “to provide reassurance to the local community.”
Rising Hate Crimes and Heightened Fears
This latest attack comes days after a deadly assault outside a synagogue in Manchester, where two Jewish worshippers were killed in a car-ramming and stabbing attack on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned that attack, warning that hatred “is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again.”
The Peacehaven mosque, which opened four years ago and serves about 15 worshippers, has faced previous acts of harassment. Last year, it was targeted twice with eggs thrown at the building, and members reported racial slurs shouted from passersby.
“But we never expected an attack on this level,” the mosque manager told CNN. “The community right now feels unsafe and paranoid. There is a lot going on right now.”
Lawmakers and Faith Leaders Condemn Attack
Local representatives have strongly condemned the attack. James MacCleary, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes district, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Appalling to hear about this fire at the mosque in Peacehaven. It is used by my constituents and is an important part of the local community. Police are treating it as a hate crime.”
Faith leaders across the UK have also urged calm and solidarity between communities, warning that hate-fuelled violence — whether against Muslims, Jews, or any other group — threatens the country’s unity and moral fabric.
Social Media Reactions Highlight Deep Divides
Discussions on social platforms like Nairaland and X reveal sharp divides in public opinion. While many expressed relief that no lives were lost, others voiced frustration over rising intolerance and mutual suspicion between communities. Some users cautioned against using religion to justify violence, while others accused both Muslims and their critics of fuelling hate and division.
A Nation on Edge
Observers say the latest wave of hate crimes underscores growing anxiety in the UK’s multi-ethnic communities amid global political tensions and the spread of extremist rhetoric online.
For now, police investigations continue, and the small Muslim community of Peacehaven remains shaken — yet determined to stand resilient in the face of hate.
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