A new fire targets a mosque in Lyon, the privileged criminal track

• A fire slightly damaged the Essalem mosque located in the Perrache district of Lyon on the night of Wednesday to Thursday.
• The criminal trail is favored by investigators.
• A mosque had already been targeted by a fire a week ago in the Lyon area.

Stupor and consternation this Thursday morning for the faithful of the Essalem mosque in the Perrache district of Lyon. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the prayer hall was damaged by fire, the second such incident in a week targeting a Muslim place of worship in the metropolitan area. The fire blackened the door of the mosque, located in a small complex of recently renovated social housing in the 2nd arrondissement.

I strongly condemn the burning of the Essalem Mosque in Lyon 2nd - which according to initial evidence - is of criminal origin.

Thank you to the firefighters and police for their rapid intervention. pic.twitter.com/PFx3JSBBWy

"The fire would seem to be criminal, according to the first information given to me by the firefighters and the police," said the mayor (LR) of the 2nd arrondissement Pierre Olivier. The disaster was triggered at 2:16, said the prosecution who confirmed "favor the criminal hypothesis". The investigation, opened under the head of deliberate damage by fire was entrusted to the departmental security of Lyon.

A mosque already set on fire on Friday in Bron

The rapid intervention of the firefighters ensured that there were no victims, said Pierre Olivier. According to an AFP journalist on site, the damage was limited to the door and the entrance hall. While a strong smell of burning still hung over the place, two worshipers were clearing the ashes in front of the door. “It's just the door that burned down. Fortunately, the fire did not affect the neighbors above, ”noted Naaman Amaamin, 75, one of the mosque's volunteers.

#lyon #fire at the # Essalem mosque in the 2nd arrondissement. The fire broke out around 2 a.m., but it was contained by the #pompiers before it spread to the apartments above. No injuries, the criminal trail is being considered. pic.twitter.com/mCNpUNJSbn

The secretary general of the Abderrazak Chenini mosque has announced his intention to file a complaint. Last Friday, a local annex to the prayer room in Bron, in the suburbs of Lyon, was damaged by a fire probably of criminal origin, according to the prosecution.

Gérald Darmanin condemns this new fire attempt

"A few days after Bron, the Muslim community is in turmoil at the proliferation of these acts of hatred and intolerance," denounced Abdallah Zekri, president of the National Observatory for the Fight against Islamophobia and General Delegate of the French Council of Muslim worship (CFCM). "I can only strongly condemn such acts and address all my solidarity to the inhabitants of Lyon, still in shock at what happened in Bron", added Abdallah Zekri.

On Twitter, the Minister of the Interior and Worship Gerald Darmanin condemned this new attempt at fire in the Lyon area, noting that it was the second in a week.

I condemn the attempted fire last night in the Essalam mosque in Lyon, the 2nd this week. Anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian acts: these stupid and hateful acts are contrary to everything France is. I will protect freedom of worship.

“Anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian acts: these stupid and hateful acts are contrary to everything France is. I will protect the freedom of worship ”he assured.

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• Muslim
• Fire
• Lyon
• Mosque
• Islam
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