Arsonist caught on CCTV setting fire to a mosque in Florida

Police have released security camera footage of the suspect who set fire to a mosque in Thonotosassa, a town in western Florida, on 24 February.

The video shows the man carrying a large container and rope as he approaches the Daarus Salaam Mosque.

He tries twice to ignite the container using the rope and a fire accelerant, but fails to light it. On his third attempt, the gasoline splashed in front of the mosque catches fire and flames erupt on the pavement.

The suspect ran off and has not been caught.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 2am (6am GMT) and quickly extinguished the blaze.

The fire damaged the outside of the building, but there were no injuries as no one was in the house of worship at the time.

The arson attack was the second of its kind in Florida in less than six months. In September 2016, Joseph Michael Schreiber set fire to a mosque in Fort Pierce, which Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen used to visit.

Police hope that the video will present new leads in their investigation. They have asked anyone with information to come forward. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has offered a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest.