Two men to appear in court charged with Peacehaven mosque arson attack
Ricky Ryder, 38, and Jack Slowey, 34, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with arson with intent to endanger life
Two men will appear in court today charged in connection with an arson attack on a mosque earlier this month.
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Ricky Ryder, 38, and Jack Slowey, 34, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
The charges relate to a fire at a mosque in Peacehaven, East Sussex on October 4, which damaged the front entrance of the building and a car.
Two worshippers were inside the mosque at the time, but no one was injured.
Read more: Shocking CCTV footage shows blaze erupt at mosque after hate crime arson attack - as police hunt two
Sussex Police had released images of two people wearing balaclavas spraying suspected accelerant on the entrance to the mosque in Phyllis Avenue and setting it alight.
The force said a 42-year-old man from Peacehaven, who was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, had been released on conditional bail.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an additional £10 million in security funding to protect Muslim communities from hate crimes and attacks following a visit with the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to the Peacehaven Mosque.
The new investment for mosques and Muslim faith centres will provide security measures including CCTV, alarm systems, secure fencing and security staff, the Government said.
Sir Keir said: “Britain is a proud and tolerant country.
“Attacks on any community are attacks on our entire nation and our values.
“This funding will provide Muslim communities with the protection they need and deserve, allowing them to live in peace and safety.
“I want a Britain built for all and my government is committed to delivering safer streets for everyone – and that means protecting places of worship from those who seek to divide us through hate and violence.”