The Shadows of Hate

Introduction

On what would have been an otherwise quiet Saturday evening in the coastal town of Peacehaven, East Sussex, the tranquillity was shattered by an act of targeted violence. At approximately 9:50 PM on 4 October 2025, emergency services were summoned to the Peacehaven Islamic Centre and Mosque on Phyllis Avenue following reports of a fire ^{8, 14}. The blaze, which caused substantial damage to the building's facade and incinerated a car belonging to the mosque's chairman, has since been declared a suspected arson and is being investigated as a hate crime by Sussex Police ^{4, 9}. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond, prompting widespread condemnation and a renewed focus on the security of places of worship across the nation. While thankfully no one was physically harmed, the psychological impact on the Muslim community and the very fabric of this peaceful seaside town is immeasurable ^{6, 23}. This event did not occur in a vacuum; it is set against a backdrop of rising religious hate crime in the United Kingdom and growing societal tensions. The attack on the Peacehaven mosque serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of Islamophobia and the urgent need for solidarity and understanding in an increasingly polarised world.

A Night of Fear and Fortitude

Eyewitness accounts and emerging evidence paint a chilling picture of the events of 4 October. According to a volunteer mosque manager, security footage captured two masked individuals approaching the mosque ⁶. They reportedly attempted to force open the main door before dousing the entrance steps and a nearby vehicle with a flammable liquid, believed to be gasoline, and igniting it ^{11, 34}. The resulting explosion and rapidly spreading flames engulfed the front of the building and the car ²⁸. Inside the mosque at the time were the chairman and another volunteer, both in their 60s, who had remained after evening prayers to share a cup of tea ^{6, 34}. They heard a loud bang and were able to escape the building just as the fire took hold ⁶. A volunteer at the mosque later remarked, "It could have been murder" ^{5, 11}. Doorbell camera footage from a neighbouring property captured the dramatic moments as the blaze erupted and one of the individuals inside the mosque was seen fleeing to safety ¹².

The Aftermath and the Investigation

The East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service responded swiftly to the emergency calls, extinguishing the blaze before it could cause more extensive damage to the interior of the mosque ^{13, 23}. The morning after the attack, the scene was one of charred remains and disbelief. The car was a burnt-out shell, and the entrance to the mosque was blackened and damaged ^{4, 13}. Sussex Police quickly cordoned off the area and launched what they have described as a "fast-moving investigation" under the codename Operation Spey ^{4, 8, 18}. Forensic teams were dispatched to the scene to gather evidence, and officers began appealing to the public for any information, including CCTV, doorbell, dashcam, and mobile phone footage from the vicinity of the mosque on the evening of the attack ⁸. In a statement, Detective Superintendent Karrie Bohanna of Sussex Police confirmed that the incident was being treated as a hate crime and that the force has a "zero-tolerance approach" to such offences ^{4, 8}. In response to the attack and to allay the fears of the community, police patrols have been increased in the area and around other places of worship across the county ^{4, 14}. The mosque, which also serves as a community centre, has been temporarily closed pending the completion of the police investigation ^{14, 26}.

Local Voices of Condemnation and Support

The suspected arson attack on the Peacehaven mosque has been met with a chorus of condemnation from local residents, political representatives, and community leaders. Many in the town have expressed their shock and disgust at the incident. Isabel Gilles, a local resident of six years, told a reporter she was "disgusted" and that "you do not think it's going to happen on your doorstep" ¹⁸. She emphasised the welcoming nature of the Peacehaven community and the unsettling effect of the attack, stating, "It's really horrible that people might be made to feel unwelcome and scared" ¹⁸.

Chris Ward, the Labour Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, described the attack as "disgusting" and noted that it was "purely by chance" that no one was injured ^{4, 18}. He has been in communication with Sussex Police and has praised the response of the emergency services ²³. Ward asserted, "This violence and hatred has no place in our peaceful, tolerant local community. We will root it out and we stand in solidarity with all affected" ^{4, 18}.

The leader of Lewes District Council, Councillor Zoe Nicholson, echoed these sentiments, calling the incident "deeply distressing" and something that "strikes at the heart of our community" ^{4, 26, 30}. On behalf of the council, she expressed "unwavering support and solidarity with the Muslim community in Peacehaven and across our district," adding, "Be in no doubt, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you" ^{4, 26}. Councillor Bella Sankey, the Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, also issued a statement condemning the attack, saying, "Islamophobia and racist violence have no place in our region. We stand in solidarity with our Muslim neighbours and reaffirm our commitment to protecting all places of worship and fostering a community built on respect, inclusion, and peace" ¹⁶.

A spokesperson for the mosque expressed their deep sadness at the "shocking arson attack" but also profound gratitude that no one was injured ^{14, 24, 26}. The spokesperson emphasised that "This hateful act does not represent our community or our town. Peacehaven has always been a place of kindness, respect, and mutual support, and we will continue to embody those values" ²⁶. They also extended heartfelt thanks to neighbours, local faith leaders, and all who have offered their support, stating that "Your support strengthens us and reminds us that love and understanding will always overcome hate and division" ^{26, 29}. The mosque has asked everyone "to reject division and respond to hate with unity and compassion" ^{14, 26}. The attack has also been condemned by the Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats, who stated that "Hate has no place in our community" ²⁸.

The Rising Tide of Hate Crime in the UK

The attack on the Peacehaven mosque is not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of a deeply concerning trend of rising religious hate crime in the United Kingdom. Home Office data for the year ending March 2024 revealed a 25% increase in religious hate crimes in England and Wales, the highest annual count since records began in 2012 ^{25, 27}. The report indicates that this increase has been particularly driven by a rise in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities, with a notable spike since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict ²⁷.

Muslims are disproportionately targeted in religious hate crimes. The Home Office statistics show that nearly 40% of all religiously motivated hate crimes were directed at Muslims, with 3,866 cases reported in the year ending March 2024 ²⁵. This makes the Muslim community the most affected religious group ²⁵. Recorded hate crimes against Muslims rose by 13% compared to the previous year ²⁷. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has expressed its concern over these figures, with Secretary-General Zara Mohammed stating that the spike in Islamophobic hate crime is "sadly, not surprising" and reflects the increased hatred experienced by British Muslims ²⁵. The MCB has also highlighted that most Islamophobic hate crimes go unreported, meaning the official data likely only represents a fraction of the true scale of the problem ²⁵.

A survey conducted by Muslim Census and MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development) found that almost half of the mosques and Islamic institutions surveyed had experienced religiously motivated attacks in the last three years ¹⁵. Vandalism was the most common form of attack, followed by theft ¹⁵. Alarmingly, 17% of mosques that had been attacked reported incidents of physical assault ¹⁵.

The attack in Peacehaven occurred just days after a fatal attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, in which two Jewish worshippers were killed ^{7, 11}. This has heightened concerns about the security of all places of worship and has led to calls for greater protection for religious communities. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, condemned the Peacehaven attack, stating, "Every faith community has the right to worship free from fear. Our country is better than this" ²⁹.

From Early Roots to a Growing Presence

While the Muslim community in Peacehaven is relatively small, the history of Islam in Sussex is part of a larger narrative of the growth of the faith in Britain. The 2011 census recorded almost 23,000 Muslims in Sussex, representing 1.4% of the county's population, a figure lower than the national average of 5% ³¹. Crawley has the highest proportion of Muslims in the county, at 7.2% of its population ³¹. Mosques and Islamic centres can be found in several towns across Sussex, including Crawley, Brighton, Worthing, Horsham, Haywards Heath, and St Leonards-on-Sea ³¹.

The history of Muslims in Britain dates back centuries, with some of the earliest arrivals being sailors recruited from India in the 18th century ³⁸. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to a further wave of Muslim immigration ³⁸. The post-war period saw a significant increase in the Muslim population, with migrants from India and Pakistan arriving to fill labour shortages, followed by arrivals from Africa in the 1960s and 70s ³⁸.

In Sussex, as in other parts of the country, the establishment of mosques has been a gradual process, often beginning with small, informal prayer groups in private homes or rented spaces. The Eastbourne Mosque, for instance, developed from a temporary space for Friday prayers to a more established centre offering a range of services for the local Muslim community ³⁶. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association has also been active in Sussex, holding interfaith events in Brighton to foster greater understanding and peace between different religious groups ³⁷.

The Peacehaven mosque, which also functions as a community centre, serves a local congregation of 10 to 15 worshippers and has been in operation for the past four years ⁶. Despite its small size, it plays a vital role in the lives of the local Muslim community. The attack on this place of worship is not only an attack on a building but an assault on the sense of belonging and security of a community that has made Sussex its home. While the mosque has reportedly experienced minor incidents of harassment in the past, such as egging and verbal abuse, a representative stated that they "never expected an attack on this level" ²⁸.

Building Bridges in a Divided Society

The attack on the Peacehaven mosque underscores the ongoing challenges to community cohesion in the United Kingdom. In an era of heightened political polarisation and the rapid spread of misinformation online, faith communities can become easy targets for extremists. The incident has prompted calls for greater unity and a redoubling of efforts to combat all forms of hatred.

Tariq Jung, the chair of the Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum, expressed that "everybody is deeply saddened and appalled" by the events in both Manchester and Peacehaven ¹¹. He emphasised that worshippers of all faiths should be able to practice their religion without fear of harm and called for faith leaders and the wider community to "come together to try and bring peace" ¹¹. Campaign group Brighton and Hove Stand Up to Racism also condemned the attack, linking it to a broader pattern of racist and antisemitic violence ³³.

The response from the wider Peacehaven community has been overwhelmingly one of support for their Muslim neighbours. The town council's commitment to "inclusive and open partnership working" with all community organisations is a testament to the efforts being made at a local level to foster a sense of shared identity and mutual respect ²². Initiatives aimed at connecting different parts of the community, such as those organised by local care homes, also play a crucial role in building a more cohesive society ³⁵.

The investigation into the Peacehaven mosque attack is ongoing, and as of now, the perpetrators have not been identified. Sussex Police have released CCTV images of two individuals they wish to identify in connection with the incident ¹⁷. The path to healing for the community will be long, but the outpouring of solidarity in the wake of this hateful act offers a glimmer of hope. It is a reminder that even in the face of division and violence, the bonds of community and the shared values of tolerance and respect can and must prevail. The fire on Phyllis Avenue was intended to sow fear and division, but in its aftermath, it has also ignited a renewed determination to stand together against hatred in all its forms.