Police in New Zealand are looking into an arson incident that happened early on Tuesday at the Imam Reza Mosque in New Lynn, Auckland.
Emergency services were called after the fire was discovered after it had burned for eight hours.
Just before 1 am (1200 GMT), someone was seen on surveillance camera breaking into the mosque and purposefully igniting the fire. Although authorities have said they are investigating possible causes, they have not verified if it is connected to hate crimes.
On social media, the mosque’s leadership emphasized their fortitude while expressing their shock and anguish. They wrote, “There are those who attempted to hurt us and tremble the very foundations of our sacred space.”
