On the evening of October 4, 2025, a small mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex, became the scene of a suspected arson attack that has sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond. According to Sussex Police, fire crews were called to the mosque on Phyllis Avenue at about 21:50 BST after reports of a blaze that damaged both the front entrance of the building and a vehicle parked outside. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the incident—being investigated as a hate crime and arson with intent to endanger life—has left many in the area feeling unsettled and fearful.
Eyewitness accounts and security footage paint a harrowing picture of what transpired that night. Two individuals, their faces concealed by balaclavas, were seen attempting to force open the mosque’s front door. When their efforts failed, they poured a flammable liquid at the entrance and over a car parked nearby before setting both alight. Inside the mosque at the time were the chairman and another worshipper, both in their 60s, who had stayed behind after evening prayers for a cup of tea. Hearing a loud bang and seeing flames, they managed to escape unharmed. As the mosque manager told CNN, “They could have easily died. These people came with full intent to cause maximum damage.”
The car, the chairman’s livelihood as a taxi driver, was destroyed in the fire. “Unfortunately, just a shell of his vehicle is left,” the manager added. The mosque, which serves a close-knit congregation of 10 to 15 worshippers, had previously been the target of less severe incidents—eggs thrown at the building and racial slurs shouted by passersby—but nothing on the scale of this attack. “The community right now is on their toes. They feel unsafe, they are paranoid. There is a lot going on right now,” the manager said, reflecting the mood of many local residents.
Police have released images of two suspects: one wearing a distinctive black jacket with a Pre London logo in white on the chest, and the other sporting bright red gloves. Detective Inspector Gavin Patch described the attack as “appalling and reckless,” adding, “We know this will have left many people feeling less safe. We are treating this as an arson with intent to endanger life and are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry to identify those responsible.” Increased police presence has been reported at the scene, and additional patrols are being conducted at other places of worship across the county to provide reassurance.
The mosque’s spokesperson expressed deep sadness over the incident but also gratitude for the swift response of emergency services and the outpouring of community support. “This hateful act does not represent our community or our town. Peacehaven has always been a place of kindness, respect, and mutual support, and we will continue to embody those values. We ask everyone to reject division and respond to hate with unity and compassion,” the spokesperson said, according to BBC. The mosque will remain closed until police investigations are complete.
Political and interfaith leaders have been quick to condemn the attack and call for solidarity. Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, stated, “That there were no injuries is purely by chance. This violence and hatred has no place in our peaceful, tolerant local community. We will root it out and we stand in solidarity with all affected.” Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary echoed this sentiment, calling the incident “appalling” and emphasizing the mosque’s importance to his constituents. Zoe Nicholson, leader of Lewes District Council, offered the “unwavering support and solidarity” of the local authority, saying, “Be in no doubt, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”
The broader context for the arson attack has only heightened concern. Just two days earlier, on October 2, 2025, two Jewish worshippers were killed in a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead at the scene. The attack in Manchester has renewed focus on the safety of places of worship and the rise in both Islamophobic and antisemitic hate crimes across the UK this year.
Community leaders have called for unity in the face of such violence. Tariq Jung, chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum, told BBC Radio Sussex, “Everybody is deeply saddened and appalled by the events in both Manchester and Peacehaven. Irrespective of whether worshippers are Jewish, Christian, Hindu or Muslim, the last thing they should expect is that someone would try to harm them. I hope faith leaders and others within the community will come together to try and bring peace. We’ve got to support each other at this time of great need.”
The incident has also prompted calls for police to clarify whether the attack should be classified as terrorism. Mothin Ali, deputy leader of the Green Party, urged authorities to “urgently seek clarity on the motives of this attack and whether this hate crime constitutes an act of terrorism.” He added, “People were inside the mosque when it was firebombed and people in this community will be feeling frightened and targeted for their faith.”
National leaders have weighed in as well. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the attack as “deeply concerning” and called for the nation to “stand united.” She posted on X, “This country’s greatest strength has been its ability to build one nation from many communities. Attacks against Britain’s Muslims are attacks against all Britons and this country itself.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer, referencing the Manchester synagogue attack, warned that hatred “is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again.”
Amid the shock and fear, there has been a groundswell of support for the Peacehaven mosque from across religious and political lines. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said, “We utterly condemn what appears to have been an arson attack on a mosque in Peacehaven. Every faith community has the right to worship free from fear. Our country is better than this. Over recent weeks there has been a lot of focus on how we have become a divided kingdom. But we are the United Kingdom. And we need to move forward against hate together.”
Sussex Police continue to investigate, urging anyone with information or footage to come forward. Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna reassured the public, stating, “Sussex Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and there is no place for hate across the county.” As the investigation unfolds, the people of Peacehaven—and the nation at large—are left grappling with the aftermath of a crime that has shaken their sense of security, but also galvanized a renewed commitment to unity and compassion in the face of hate.
In the days ahead, the resolve of the Peacehaven community to stand together may prove to be the most powerful response to those who seek to divide.
