Peacehaven Mosque Arson Investigated as Hate Crime

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack at Peacehaven Mosque in East Sussex after emergency services were called at about 21:50 BST on Saturday; the front entrance and a car outside were damaged but no one was injured. Witnesses and social media footage—some unverified—appear to show two masked individuals pouring a liquid on the mosque steps and setting the vehicle alight; mosque members said two people inside escaped unharmed. Sussex Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and described the probe as a "fast-moving investigation," urging anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage to come forward. The force has increased patrols at places of worship across the county to reassure communities, and Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna said the police take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and acknowledged the impact on the local Muslim community. The mosque has been temporarily closed, and the attack has heightened concerns about safety at places of worship following this week's deadly attack outside a Manchester synagogue.