In Rennes, the Muslim community is in shock after the fire which ravaged part of the mosque in the Maurepas district on Sunday evening.
In the aftermath of the disaster, which did not cause any injuries, the Rennes prosecutor's office opened an investigation on Monday "for willful destruction by fire" entrusted to the judicial police.
“The causes of the fire have not yet been determined, analyzes and expertise will be carried out.
In view of the sensitivity of the place concerned, the investigation was entrusted by the prosecution to the Territorial Directorate of the Judicial Police of Rennes, ”said Rennes prosecutor Philippe Astruc.
Seals blocked the entrance to the gate on Monday morning and a burning smell was still felt in the backyard of the building.
The windows of the house were also blown out.
“Is it criminal?
We cannot know exactly.
There have been anti-Islam tags, but nothing alarming before,” said mosque imam Mouhammadou Dicko.
At the time of the fire, “there was no one in the mosque.
It is a busy place, with five prayers a day,” he added.
Another mosque already targeted by tags in 2021
According to a witness interviewed by AFP, the fire took place between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“We quickly saw a thick cloud of smoke, the firefighters and the police arrived quickly,” said this resident, whose apartment is located opposite the mosque and who prefers not to give her name.
Several Muslim faithful, who came to pray, expressed their annoyance on Monday morning when they saw the damage caused by the fire.
In April 2021, in another district of Rennes, a Muslim cultural center had been covered with anti-Islam tags and the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin had visited the Breton capital.
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Miscellaneous facts
Fire
Mosque
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