Teens Arrested Over Blaze At Europe’s Largest Mosque

Two teenagers were arrested Sunday over a blaze at a London mosque which claims to be the largest in western Europe.

Ten fire trucks were sent to fight the blaze which broke out Saturday at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, southwest London. The smoke could be seen across the city.

Two boys aged 16 and 14 have been arrested on suspicion of arson and remain in custody at a south London police station, Scotland Yard police headquarters said.

One man, said to be in his 40s, was taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation, London Ambulance Service said.

The fire affected around half of the ground floor, part of the first floor and a section of the roof.

London Fire Brigade said the blaze had hit administration buildings and the “mosque itself is thankfully unaffected.”

The mosque was built for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community to provide people with a meeting place and venue to hold social religious events.

The 5.2-acre (2.1-hectare) complex was completed in 2003. There is space for at least 10,500 people to pray, according to the mosque’s website.

The dome stands 75 feet (23 metres) above ground level.