Morden: Baitul Futuh Mosque fire 'not an attack on Islam' says Scotland Yard

The fire that tore through buildings at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden was not an attack on Islam, police believe. Ten fire engines and 70 fire fighters and officers battled the blaze at one Europe's biggest mosques on 26 Setember.

The fire affected the administration building and associated halls next to the mosque. The ancillary building suffered extensive damage to its ground floor, first floor and roof. About 30 people fled the building before London Fire Brigade arrived. Crews from New Malden, Wandsworth, Tooting, Sutton, Mitcham, Norbury and other surrounding fire stations also attended the incident.

One man believed to have been in his 40s was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation but others attending the mosque were unhurt. On Sunday, 27 September, two males – aged 14 and 16 – were arrested on suspicion of arson, the youngest of whom was bailed pending further enquiries to a date in early January while the other was released and will face no further action.

The building was completed in 2003 and is estimated to have cost £5.5m ($8.4m)to build and the mosque can accommodate 10,500 worshippers. A Met Police statement ruled out the fire was started as part of a hate crime. "While enquiries into the circumstances continue, there is nothing to suggest at this stage that this is a hate crime," it read. Anyone with information can contact police via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.