Police have arrested a man on suspicion of starting a fire that damaged a mosque in East Sussex on Saturday night.
The 46-year-old man was arrested by police on Monday afternoon on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Sussex Police had previously released images of two people spraying what appeared to be an accelerant on the entrance to the mosque, lighting the fire, and then running from the scene.
The entrance to the mosque suffered fire damage and a car parked outside was destroyed. Police reports show that no one was injured, although videos shared on social media show flames engulfing the building and one man narrowly escaping from the burning mosque.
Local media reported that there were two men inside the building at the time of the attack, including an elderly man in his 60s.
Figures from Tell MAMA, a charity which supports victims of Islamophobic abuse, show that there have been 22 mosques attacked in the past four months.
Iman Atta, the organisation’s director, described the figures as “appalling”.
He said: “After the recent extremist attack against the Manchester synagogue, it is high time that something is done to tackle extremism and hate.
“There is a national silence on anti-Muslim hate, and with government-funded organisations looking the other way on this very issue. It is time that the politics of hate is turned down”.
Locals view the damage outside the front entrance of the mosque in Phyllis Avenue, Peacehaven (Photo: Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)Meanwhile, Sussex Police said they were continuing to appeal to the public for further information.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cullimore, from Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “The investigation is progressing at pace, and we are pursuing all lines of inquiry to identify those responsible for this appalling and reckless attack.
Superintendent Rachel Swinney added: “We acknowledge the serious distress and concern this has caused in our communities.
“There is an increased police presence at the scene and additional patrols taking place at places of worship across Sussex to provide visibility and reassurance.“We will continue to engage with our religious communities to support them and ensure their concerns are heard and acted upon.”
Officials from the mosque confirmed the attack on Sunday, writing on Instagram that the mosque would be “closed until further notice”.
Politicians and faith leaders have condemned the attack.
Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, labelled the attack “disgusting”.
He thanked the East Sussex fire and rescue service for their response, and added: “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”.
BREAKING: @EastSussexFRS attended a fire at the community mosque in #Peacehaven. The fire service has now stood down. Sussex News has seen video showing the building being set alight and is awaiting an update from Sussex Police. No reports of injuries. pic.twitter.com/aVj9n5ho0c
— Sussex News – Breaking news for Sussex (@SussexIncidents) October 4, 2025Attorney General Richard Hermer condemned the attack as “disgraceful”.
In a statement, he said: “My solidarity and thoughts are with the Muslim community in Peacehaven today. This is a disgraceful attack against a place of worship – those who commit hate crimes will be brought to justice”.
Meanwhile, Phil Rosenberg, the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, released a statement condemning the attack.
He said: “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”.
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Stand Up to Racism said: “We send our solidarity to those at Peacehaven Mosque and within the wider Muslim community for whom this must be an incredibly distressing time.
“We stand together with the Muslim community against Islamophobia, just as we stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism.”
The incident in Peacehaven marks the second time in a week that British places of worship have been attacked.
Two Jewish people were killed in an attack outside a Manchester synagogue on Thursday.
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was named as the suspect. He was shot dead at the scene.
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