New Zealand police probe mosque arson attack
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SYDNEY - New Zealand police are investigating an arson attack at an Auckland mosque early on Nov 5, when a fire smouldered for eight hours before it was noticed and emergency services were called.
Mosque attacks have gained attention in New Zealand after 51 people were killed in its worst mass shooting in 2019 that targeted Muslims
Closed-circuit television showed someone broke into the Imam Reza Mosque in New Lynn just before 1am and deliberately lit a fire, the police said on Nov 5.
“Police are still investigating possible motive and we cannot say... it is a hate-related crime,” they said in a statement.
The attack was shocking and horrific, mosque authorities said on social media.
“There are those who tried to harm us, to shake the very foundations of our sacred space,” they said in a post.
“Today, we stand united, proclaiming that our masjid is not merely a physical structure; it is a beacon of light, a place of worship, and a symbol of hope.” REUTERS
