Al-Rahma Islamic Centre destroyed in 'racist attack'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

An Islamic centre in north London has been destroyed by a fire in an apparent racially motivated 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.

London Mayor Boris Johnson called the attack "cowardly and pathetic".

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22785074

[clarice]

1. Hurts, don't it. nt

[Wilms]

2. Not the most enlightened response.

But hey, tit for tat is a time-honored way to keep conflict going strong. Thanks for your part in maintaining hatred and division.

[samsingh]

9. but i understand the motivations of the vandals.

[Wilms]

12. Understanding and advocating are two different things. n/t

[samsingh]

15. agreed - i'm not advocating. but i remember the soldier who was brutally murdered

[Wilms]

17. And the attackers remembered that tens of thousands of innocents have died.

Pretty brutal, I'm sure we agree.

[jessie04]

18. Exactly.

I agree.

[demosincebirth]

27. +100

[JI7]

19. really ? you get scott Roeder also ? the guy who shot up the sikh temple ?

[samsingh]

21. they're completely different.

[Violet_Crumble]

22. how? they're both acts of violence by bigots aimed at innocents

So what's the difference?

[Posteritatis]

33. It's apparently okay if the innocents are Muslims, I guess.

Stunned that people are defending this (and "I'm not defending this, but" in these contexts is defending it).

[Violet_Crumble]

34. That's what it looks like n/t

[Blue_Tires]

24. If you want to keep score, you can go back for centuries...

Should we start with the crusades or the conquest of Constantinople?

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. do you understand the motives of those who burn a Synagogue or deface a Jewish

cemetery? I'm sure at least some of those vandals can give an articulate and zealous defense of their actions too.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Can you expand on that?

There are several ways of interpreting that reply, but most reflect badly on you.

[Kingofalldems]

7. And don't you also use the term 'Democrat party'?

Interesting.

[clarice]

13. I did, but thanks to the help of nice people like you, I won't anymore.

and anyway, how does politics relate to a terrible tragedy like this? Please get your priorities straight.

[closeupready]

23. Welcome to my ignore list.

[hamster]

28. Hello, Clarice

I have always wanted to say]that!

[Sunlei]

4. "a community centre which was mainly used by children after school"

House sized building was very near the school and in middle of many homes. Good the fire department responded fast and able to contain the damages.

[clarice]

5. I'm very glad to hear that.nt

[samsingh]

10. agreed

[cosmicone]

6. Violent nutcases on both sides

silencing a vast majority of tolerant people.

Sad

[samsingh]

11. that's true

[riderinthestorm]

8. Disgusting act of violence. So glad nobody was hurt... nt

[clarice]

14. Ditto. nt

[jessie04]

16. This is very sad.

Spoke to friend in London and theres alot of anger about the Rigby killing. Most people he said have had enough.

[DesertFlower]

26. this is sad. violence serves no purpose.

[jessie04]

29. Agree

wish Michael Adebolajo took that advice.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. And now a fire at an Islamic boarding school in London

A fire overnight at an Islamic boarding school in south east London is being treated as suspicious by police.

More than 120 pupils and staff were evacuated from Darul Uloom School, in Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, on Saturday.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 23:50 BST. Two men were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

London Fire Brigade said there was minor damage to the building and 21 firefighters tackled the blaze.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22831882

[jessie04]

31. Very unfortunate.

It's a shame this is happening. I don't think it's over.

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. School spokesman: fire was set by intruders

An Islamic boarding school "was set alight by intruders" while 128 children and staff were inside, said a spokesman for the school.
...
Two boys were treated for smoke inhalation and 10% of the building was damaged during the blaze, which was brought under control within an hour.

School adviser Saiyed Mahmood said: "The academic department of the school was set alight just before midnight by intruders. Initially the staff extinguished the fire and evacuated the students to safety.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/suspicious-fire-islamic-boarding-school-105917014.html#GsiJKT5

[Nolimit]

35. An inaccurate characterization.

Islam, like Christianity, is not a race. The article kind of switches between the attack being anti-Islamic or anti-Somali. Regardless, the attack is deplorable.

[nomorenomore08]

36. But "Muslim" = "Central/South Asian" in most British people's minds.

Just like "Muslim" = "Arab" in most Americans' minds. So in that sense it can be considered a racially motivated attack.