Islamic Centre Targetted In Grimsby

27 May 2013, 11:41 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

The chairman of a mosque in Grimsby has described how he was inside an Islamic cultural centre with a young family when it was hit by petrol bombs.

Humberside Police have arrested two people, after an officer came across the fire on Weelsby Road last night.

The fire was extinguished and no one was injured as a result.

Police say it is too early to speculate why the fire was started but are investigating messages on social networking sites inciting trouble after the death of soldier Lee Rigby.

Another part of the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre was attacked just three days ago.

Mosque chairman Diler Gharib said: "We had just finished our prayers and were discussing how to thank our neighbours for the support they have shown us over the past few days when we heard a bang and saw fire coming under the door.

"I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out and then two more petrol bombs hit the fire escape and the bin so I had to put those out too.''

Mr Gharib said police had been monitoring the mosque after it was targeted by youths last week and officers were able to quickly apprehend two suspects.

He said the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich was a criminal act that had nothing to do with the Muslim faith.

He said: "We have all been feeling on edge and now this has happened. It's not just the people at the mosque we are worried about, it's our wives, daughters and children who are out in the community.''