On 4 October 2025, Peacehaven Community Centre & Mosque in East Sussex was set on fire in a suspected hate crime. CCTV footage showed two masked individuals spraying an accelerant on the front door before igniting a fire.[1][2] Sussex police confirmed the incident, in which no-one was injured, was being treated as a hate crime.[3][4]
| Peacehaven mosque arson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Phyllis Avenue, Peacehaven, East Sussex, England |
| Date | 4 October 2025 9:50 PM (BST (UTC+01:00)) |
| Target | Peacehaven Community Centre & Mosque |
Attack type | Arson |
Background
editThe attack took place two days after an attack on a synagogue in Manchester, which left three people dead, including the attacker. Tell MAMA, an anti-Islamophobia group, had recorded 6,000 Islamophobic incidents in the UK in 2024, a record high since it began recording statistics in 2012.[4]
Investigation
editAs of 10 October 2025, police had arrested four men under suspected connection with the attack, all of whom had been released under conditional bail. On 17 October, Crimestoppers announced a reward of £10,000 for information leading to a conviction.[5]
On 23 October, two suspects were charged with arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the attack.[6][7]
On 4 November it was reported that "as a result of information and evidence that has come to light" during ongoing inquiries, counter-terrorism officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East had taken over the investigation.[8]
On 14 November the two charged suspects appeared in court by videolink from jail, and were remanded into custody. The case will be heard by a High Court judge at Kingston Crown Court. A provisional trial date has been set for 1 December 2026.[9]
Reactions
editThe attack was condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.[2] Wajid Akhter, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "These incidents do not occur in a vacuum. This comes as media and political figures escalate collective blame and deliberate misrepresentation of Muslim communities, their causes and their faith."[10] On 10 October, local MP Chris Ward and members of the Muslim Council of Britain visited the mosque during the first Friday prayer since the attack took place.[11]
Some local residents have said that they believed Operation Raise the Colours had "created the climate" for the attack, with Phyllis Avenue having been lined with flags. The Peacehaven mosque manager said "Anti-Islamic sentiment is spreading [...] We personally don’t have anything wrong with the flag of the country as long as it’s done with the right intention. But these have been put up with an intent to divide."[12]
See also
edit- 2017 Finsbury Park van attack – A car-attack on a crowd of Muslim pedestrians near a mosque in North London
- 2024 Newtownards mosque petrol bombing – A petrol bombing of a mosque in Northern Ireland
References
edit- ↑ "Police release photos of mosque arson suspects". BBC News. 5 October 2025.
- 1 2 Ofori, Morgan (10 October 2025). "Further arrests made over 'shocking' arson attack on Peacehaven mosque". The Guardian.
- ↑ Crabbe, Ellie (5 October 2025). "Hate crime fire at mosque in England condemned as 'disgusting'". The Independent.
- 1 2 Bubola, Emma (5 October 2025). "Fire at Peacehaven Mosque Is Being Treated as Hate Crime, UK Police Say". The New York Times.
- ↑ Hunt, Lucy. "£10,000 reward for information about Peacehaven mosque fire". The Argus.
- ↑ "Two men charged in connection with Peacehaven Mosque arson". Sussex Police. 23 October 2025.
- ↑ "Two men in court over mosque arson attack". BBC News. 24 October 2025.
- ↑ Maisner, Stuart (4 November 2025). "Counter-terrorism team takes on mosque arson case". BBC News. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ Maisner, Stuart (14 November 2025). "Mosque arson victims ran through fire, court hears". BBC News. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Dodd, Vikram (4 November 2025). "Counter-terror police take over Sussex mosque arson inquiry". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ "Chris Ward MP Visits Peacehaven Mosque in Aftermath of Arson Attack". Muslim Council of Britain. 15 October 2025.
- ↑ Javed, Saman (6 October 2025). "Mosque arson cost Peacehaven Muslim community its 'safe haven', says manager". Hyphen Online. Retrieved 11 November 2025.