Mosque in Glasgow damaged by fire-raisers

A community centre in East Dunbartonshire used as a mosque was damaged by fire in the early hours yesterday in an apparently deliberate attack.

Muslims at prayer. The motive for the attack is unclear. Picture: PA

Police and fire services were called to Bishopbriggs Cultural Centre, in Auchinairn Road, at 2.20am following a report from a member of the public.

The building, which is set back from the main road behind shops, is listed as a mosque on the Glasgow Muslims website.

A fire in a lock-up adjacent to the building was extinguished, causing some damage and no one was injured.

Police have now confirmed that the fire at is being treated as “suspicious” and witnesses have been urged to come forward.

Shafiq Sharif, 56, the secretary for the cultural centre, also known as Al Sarouk, said he was “saddened” by the attack.

He said: “I was shocked when I found out this happened. My family have been living in Bishopbriggs for the past 57 years and have never had any problem like this before.

“I’m really saddened and hope that the police can solve this matter.

“We don’t know what the motive behind this attack might have been. We’ve had no problems in this area before at all.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed that the attack was being treated as a wilful fire-raising but is not being treated as a hate crime at this time.

She said: “No persons were within and the fire was extinguished with some damage to the building.

“A full investigation is under way into the cause.”