Five Injured as Fire Breaks Out in Swedish Mosque

Police suspect that a mosque in the Swedish city Eskilstuna was set on fire, after witnesses reported seeing a bottle containing gasoline. Five people have sustained injuries.

MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) — Five people have sustained injuries as fire engulfed a mosque in the Swedish city of Eskilstuna, Swedish police said Thursday.

"Fully developed fire on the lower floor. Rescue services, ambulance and police on the spot," the Sodermanland police department said in a statement.

According to the Swedish Expressen newspaper, five people have sustained injuries during the fire.

"We have witness statements that someone was seen throwing objects into the building, directly after which the fire broke out. We have launched a preliminary investigation of aggravated arson," police spokesman Lars Franzell told the newspaper.

The mosque was reportedly located in the ground floor of an apartment building and frequented by members of the city's Somali community.

Commenting to the Swedish SVT broadcaster, the congregation's spokesman, Abdirahman Farah, said that witnesses reported seeing a bottle containing what they believe to be gasoline left outside the building. The mosque has not been subject to threats or attacks in the past, Farah noted.

Eskilstuna is a city of some 65,000 inhabitants, located in the county of Sodermanland, north of Stockholm.