An Islamic centre in north London has been destroyed by a fire in an apparent hate crime attack.
The Met Police said the fire, which happened at the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre in Muswell Hill in the early hours, is being treated as suspicious.
A spokesman said the letters EDL (English Defence League) were sprayed on to the building, used by the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association.
MP Theresa Villiers said: "This kind of hate crime is absolutely despicable."
The Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet said: "This is not just an attack on the Muslim community it is an attack on all of us and our values.
Community 'shocked'
"We are a highly diverse multi-ethnic borough with excellent community cohesion in Barnet. We should under no circumstances allow violent extremists to divide us with this kind of outrage."
The Met's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating the cause of the fire on Coppetts Road.
BBC London correspondent Kurt Barling said the centre's leaders had told him they had seen freshly sprayed graffiti on the building and they were concerned the fire was in reaction to the killing of a soldier in Woolwich. Two men have been charged in connection with the attack.
The centre was not used for prayers, but as a community centre which was mainly used by children after school.
Abu Bakar Ali, from the centre, said: "The Somali community is in fear.
"We are all shocked about what has happened and we strongly condemn the attack on the centre. As you can see, the situation is a very serious one indeed.
"We are appalled and deeply saddened by the horrific and foolish act against a peaceful community. While no-one was thankfully physically hurt in the attack, the effects of this crime will be felt very deeply."
![Bron: http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67993000/jpg/_67993424_67993423.jpg [img width=640 height=360 cacheid=0015d62d0031e7d8f60315871a02dc1126]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67993000/jpg/_67993424_67993423.jpg[/img]](/images/cache/0015d62d0031e7d8f60315871a02dc1126)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22785074
The Met Police said the fire, which happened at the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre in Muswell Hill in the early hours, is being treated as suspicious.
A spokesman said the letters EDL (English Defence League) were sprayed on to the building, used by the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association.
MP Theresa Villiers said: "This kind of hate crime is absolutely despicable."
The Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet said: "This is not just an attack on the Muslim community it is an attack on all of us and our values.
Community 'shocked'
"We are a highly diverse multi-ethnic borough with excellent community cohesion in Barnet. We should under no circumstances allow violent extremists to divide us with this kind of outrage."
The Met's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating the cause of the fire on Coppetts Road.
BBC London correspondent Kurt Barling said the centre's leaders had told him they had seen freshly sprayed graffiti on the building and they were concerned the fire was in reaction to the killing of a soldier in Woolwich. Two men have been charged in connection with the attack.
The centre was not used for prayers, but as a community centre which was mainly used by children after school.
Abu Bakar Ali, from the centre, said: "The Somali community is in fear.
"We are all shocked about what has happened and we strongly condemn the attack on the centre. As you can see, the situation is a very serious one indeed.
"We are appalled and deeply saddened by the horrific and foolish act against a peaceful community. While no-one was thankfully physically hurt in the attack, the effects of this crime will be felt very deeply."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22785074















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