GARDAI are treating as malicious a fire which damaged the Dublin Muslim mosque on the South Circular Road yesterday morning. The fire, shortly after 6 a.m., did not cause serious damage but some damage was caused to windows, a door and carpeting in a section of the main mosque.
The South Circular Road mosque is a former Presbyterian church in which the community has been worshipping since 1983. The site also houses an Islamic information centre and a national school with more than 200 pupils.
According to gardai, vandals broke into the mosque, causing the damage to the windows, and then started the fire. Gardai have not ruled out a racial or religious motive.
"They haven't ruled out anything. They are still investigating, said the Imam of the Islamic community, Mr Yahya M Al-Hussein. He said this was the first attack on the mosque and he would be concerned if it was racially motivated.
He said he was aware of in creasing ill-feeling towards sections of the community due to the refugee situation but he did not know if the incident was connected.
There are some 5,000 Muslims in the Republic, 3,000 to 4,000 of whom are living in Dublin. Last year, the Islamic community opened a Pounds 5 million mosque in Clonskeagh, south Dublin.
