Arsonists set fire to door of a mosque sparking fears of race hate attacks in wake of Manchester bombing
ARSONISTS have set fire to the door of a mosque sparking fears of race hate attacks in the wake of the Manchester terror atrocity.
An Islamic Centre in Oldham was targeted at 2am today just hours after British-born bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 innocent victims and maimed 59 others at Manchester Arena.
Mohammad Saddiq, Imam at the Jamia Qasmia Zahidia Islamic Centre, told Mail Online: "Last night at around 2am somebody has started a fire through our letterbox. The door is completely burnt down.
";Very soon after a member of the public was walking past and called the fire brigade. Thankfully nobody was inside at the time.
"We have no idea why somebody would target us. We are a religious and educational centre. I've been involved her for three years and never dealt with anything like this."
Mr Saddiq condemned last night's "terrible" bombing adding that the attack on the Islamic Centre was "not the way to respond".
Det Insp Ian Harratt of GMP’s Oldham Borough, told the Manchester Evening News: “In the wake of the atrocities that happened at the Manchester Arena, this man thought it was acceptable to deface and set fire to a local mosque.
“This behaviour will not be tolerated. We are standing shoulder to shoulder with the community in Oldham and all the people who treasure this mosque as a place of worship."
Abedi's attack on the 21,000-strong crowd at Monday night's Ariana Grande concert killed 22.
ISIS has since claimed responsibility.
Among the victims were eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, John Atkinson and Georgina Callander, 18, who died after a huge bomb, thought to be packed with nails and bolts, exploded as the concert ended.
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Details are already emerging about the killer, who was known to MI5, with neighbours speaking of his "strange behaviour" in the weeks leading to the attack.
MI5 spooks and anti-terror cops are now racing against the clock to uncover Abedi's links to any possible terror cell and discover if he was groomed for the atrocity.
Cops have stormed two addresses - one in Whalley Range and one in Fallowfield - and arrested a 23-year-old man in Chorlton in connection with the attack.
A hotline has been set up for concerned families. It is 0161 856 9400.