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Australian Mosque Set Ablaze, Church Offers Help

An Australian mosque located in Geelong is destroyed after fire, local church offers prayer space

The only Mosque located in Geelong, Australia was destroyed after a suspicious fire set the mosque ablaze. 

Geelong Mosque before the blaze, Google Street View
Geelong Mosque before the blaze, Google Street View

Previously, the mosque was used as an Anglican church building before being used by the local Muslim community. The Victoria Police are currently investigating the fire which started 2:10am on 18th Wednesday and has announced that they don't believe the attack was targeting Islam or Muslims.

The reasoning behind the doubt of the arson attacks being a hate crime against Muslims or Islam is that there have been a string of church fires in the area and it is not suspected that the attackers knew the church was being used as a mosque, reported by Inspector Graham Banks of the Victoria Police. It is noted that there has been 4 previous church fires in the Geelong area since October 2015.

Geelong Mosque during the blaze, Matthew Richards
Geelong Mosque during the blaze, Matthew Richards

The local community has come together to help the Muslims who attended the mosque, in particular, Bishop Philip Huggins of the Anglican church has stated that they will let Muslims pray in the church hall for Friday prayers and will continue to offer help.

The leader of the mosque, Imam Mohammad Ramzan lived next to the mosques in an adjacent house with his wife and three children, all of whom managed to remain unharmed during the blaze.

Geelong Mosque after the blaze, @metesohtaoglu/Twitter
Geelong Mosque after the blaze, @metesohtaoglu/Twitter

Imam Ramzan was shocked with the blaze at his Mosque but stated that he is happy with the support he received from the community, he stated to ABC Melbourne news "We will rebuild. Whether it was accidental or done on purpose it will not shake our determination."