New attacks on mosques – Aftonbladet

First saw Anders flames in front Uppsalamoskéns entrance.

Then he noticed a man dressed in black who threw a Molotov cocktail against the building.

“Go home” and “Muslim shit” caught the man scribbling before he disappeared from the scene.

– I called 112, police arrived three minutes later, but by then he was already gone, says Anders for Aftonbladet.

Anders, who actually called something else, had just eaten late-night meal at a gas station near Uppsala Mosque. On the way home from New Year celebrations with some buddies he saw a man squatting outside the building. A small fire was burning in front of him.

– It looked so strange, like some sort of ritual, says Anders for Aftonbladet.

He and his friends shouted at the man, who seemed not to care themselves.

– We saw how he threw a brick at one of the windows. Then he threw away a Molotov cocktail.

When the flames broke out Anders phoned the police. The man walked quickly from the scene. Police patrol which quickly came to the mosque talked with Anders and his friends.

– The man looked to be in 25-the age. He had black clothes and a hood on it.

Broken glass and a Koran outside the entrance

Among all the broken pieces of glass everywhere outside the building was also a Koran, Islam’s holy book, according to Anders. He says he saw the police pick up a piece of a bottle with fabric. 20 minutes later, at six o’clock in the morning, was the first church members to the site.

– It seemed to them how sorry they were, says Anders for Aftonbladet.

During the morning, the police have conducted a forensic examination of the scene.

Lisa True Ervik, Uppsala police spokesperson, confirmed that some discoveries have been made and that the police have also spoken with witnesses .

– There were no findings are yet analyzed and witnesses have made some interesting observations, but I can not say more because we are early in the investigation.

Attempted arson, hate speech and vandalism is offense. There are yet no arrest for murder. Police are appealing to anyone with information about the fire to call 114 14th

“People do not feel safe”

No one should have been in the mosque when the attack took place.

– This is the first time someone tries to set fire to the building. But they wrote racist words before, says Osman Said.

“Go home,” is a message that has been recurring.

The Terrible that some think so, he said.

– I myself have lived in Sweden for 35 years. We have church members whose children and grandchildren were born here.

The damage is still limited and the mosque will be open as usual during the day. But many in the congregation are afraid, says Osman Said.

– You see what happens in Sweden. No one can feel safe. But we have religious freedom in the country and in the worst case we’ll have to ask at the police station, said Osman Said.

“Do not dare tell my children”

Cherin Awad, a lawyer who also teaches Uppsala Mosque, says she was sad and scared when she heard about the fire-bombing.

– I have not yet dared to tell my kids, I usually take them there, she says.

She has lived in Uppsala since 2003. Just as Osman Said she says that graffiti in the form of hakkorks have occurred with “periodically” over the years.

One way to stop the vandalism of mosques is that even non Muslims go out and strongly condemn. “” Love Bombing “of Eskilstuna mosque the day after the fire, she takes as a positive example.

– Solidarity is the most important. Whether it’s about Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or any other, all democratically minded people clearly show that they do not accept it, she says.

“There are terrorist acts”

Omar Mustafa, president of the Islamic Association of Sweden is on the same track.

On Friday planned manifestations in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö on the occasion of the mosque attacks. Culture and Democracy Minister Alice Bah, (MP), responsible also for faith communities, will participate at the rally in Stockholm.

– It is important to remember that every time there’s been an attack that has the same mosque since been called a love bomb where people have shown support and sympathy. Most of the population are strongly against this type of attack, and tomorrow we will collect these positive forces, says Omar Mustafa.

He directs However, criticism of the government.

– I have not heard any comment from the prime minister than that, I do wonder whether there is a serious situation for the government or not. It’s a serious situation. The government must take action, says he said.

Later on Thursday evening came condemnation from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Interior Minister Anders Ygeman (S).

– The feeling is that it is planned hate crimes with the aim of intimidating part of the population. It is an attack on religious freedom, an attack on the whole of society and I can not help but to define it as acts of terrorism, he added.

“Several mosque attacks”

The suspected arson attempt in Uppsala is the third mosque fire in a week.

Last Thursday was ravaged mosque in Eskilstuna. What lies behind is still unclear.

Three days ago it burned again in a basement mosque in Eslöv, according Skåne police, these are of a hate crime. Recently, the same mosque exposed to graffiti and windows crushing.

Night fire in Uppsala will total the 15th row of vandaliseringan the Swedish mosques shows a survey Expo has done.