In a chilling escalation of religious hostility in the UK, a mosque in the coastal town of Peacehaven was set ablaze Saturday night in what authorities are now treating as a suspected arson and hate crime. The attack comes just days after a deadly terrorist assault on a Manchester synagogue—fueling fears of a dangerous cycle of retaliation and rising Islamophobia across Britain.
Narrow Escape for Worshipers
Firefighters rushed to the scene just before 10 p.m. after flames engulfed the mosque’s front entrance and a parked vehicle outside. Miraculously, no one was injured—though witnesses confirmed that worshippers were inside at the time.
“They were lucky not to be burned to death,” said Tariq Jung, chair of the Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum, in a phone interview with The New York Times. “People don’t go to places of worship ever thinking that they may be attacked.”
A Nation on Edge
The Peacehaven incident is not isolated. It follows a surge in both antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Tensions reached a boiling point after Thursday’s Manchester synagogue attack, where a driver plowed into worshippers before stabbing others, killing two.
In response, British police have ramped up patrols at Jewish sites nationwide—and now, after the mosque fire, Sussex Police have increased their presence around Peacehaven to reassure the local Muslim community.
Alarming Trends in Hate Crimes
Data from advocacy group Tell Mama paints a sobering picture:
| Year | Reported Anti-Muslim Incidents in UK |
|---|---|
| 2023 | ~4,800 |
| 2024 | Over 6,000 (highest in 12-year history) |
“People go to pray for forgiveness, for their families—not expecting violence,” Jung added. “Yet here we are.”
Community Calls for Unity
Local leaders are urging calm and solidarity. Interfaith groups in East Sussex have announced plans for a joint vigil, while officials stress that attacks on any place of worship threaten the fabric of British society as a whole.
As investigators sift through charred remains for evidence, one truth is clear: in a climate of escalating fear, protecting sacred spaces is no longer just a matter of security—it’s a test of national values.
