Mosque fire treated as suspicious

The mosque in North Side Terrace suffered severe interior damage

A fire which severely damaged a Bradford mosque just before Friday prayers is being treated as suspicious by police.

The blaze at the Jamiyat Tabligh Ul Islam mosque in North Side Terrace, Lidget Green, caused the ceiling on the first floor of building to collapse.

Firefighters said it was believed to have started in an upstairs room.

Mosque president Mohammed Rafiq Sehgal discovered the fire 15 minutes before prayers were due to start at 1300 BST.

He said a children's homework club had finished less than an hour earlier and only two people were in the building at the time of the fire.

"I think we've had a very lucky escape," said Mr Sehgal.

Mr Sehgal leaves the damaged mosque in Bradford

"It is very lucky that all the children had just gone home."

He said community relations in the area were very good and he could see no reason why anyone would want to attack the mosque.

"We have had no problems locally and we are very well mixed in and we respect each other in this area."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The incident is being treated as suspicious and inquiries are currently ongoing.

"There were a number of people around the traffic lights on Clayton Road who may be able to assist officers in their enquiries."