In a disturbing incident in Auckland, New Zealand, the Imam Raza Mosque in the suburb of New Lynn was set on fire by an unknown individual late Monday night. The attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, sparking panic and raising concerns in the community.
According to Reuters, the fire was discovered just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday when an extremist entered the mosque and deliberately set it ablaze. Fortunately, the mosque suffered only partial damage as emergency services quickly responded to the scene. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze before it could cause extensive destruction, and no casualties were reported.
Local police arrived shortly after the fire was put out and immediately began investigating the incident. Surveillance footage from closed-circuit television (CCTV) showed a person entering the mosque before the fire started. Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive for the attack, but they have stated that it is still too early to label it as a hate crime.
“We are still investigating all possibilities, and we cannot definitively call this a hate crime at this stage,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. However, the attack has left the local Muslim community shaken, evoking memories of the tragic Christchurch mosque shootings of 2019, when a white extremist live-streamed an attack on two mosques, killing 51 Muslims and injuring dozens more.
In the wake of Tuesday’s incident, mosque officials condemned the attack, describing it as a horrific and targeted act of violence. “There are people who tried to harm us, to shake the foundations of our sanctuary,” the Imam Raza Mosque officials wrote in a social media post. “But we stand firm. This attack will not break our spirit.”
The mosque, which serves the growing Muslim community in New Lynn, has long been a symbol of peace and unity in the region. The attack has sparked an outpouring of support from local residents and interfaith groups, who have expressed solidarity with the mosque.
Authorities are now working to piece together the details of the attack and are urging anyone with information to come forward. The incident has raised alarms over the safety of religious institutions in New Zealand, particularly given the country’s recent history with religiously motivated violence.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins condemned the attack and assured the public that authorities were doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of New Zealand’s diverse communities. “Any attack on a place of worship is an attack on our values as a nation,” he said. “We will not tolerate such violence.”
