CCTV images released after Mosque fire

Greenwich Islamic Centre CCTVTwo men are wanted for questioning in connection with a mosque fire where a caretaker needed hospital treatment for burns.

Police were called to reports of a fire at the Greenwich Islamic Centre, Plumstead Road, just after midnight on June 16. Caretaker Mohamed Koheeallee, 62, tried to fight the flames with buckets of water but the fire destroyed a part of the mosque and sacred Koran texts, as reported in the Times.

CCTV images have been recovered from cameras on the route 96 bus from Bexleyheath to Plumstead on the night of the fire.

Detectives from Greenwich CID want to speak to two white men aged in their 20s who were near the mosque at the time of the fire. The first has a shaved head and was wearing a black leather jacket, a t-shirt with a Lonsdale logo, jeans and white trainers. The other man was wearing a jacket with dark shoulder pads, light trainers and was holding a blue carrier bag.

Detective Sergeant Simon Beechey form Greenwich CID said: “The fire not only endangered the mosque and its community but all those who live in the surrounding area. We have been following a number of enquiries but now need public assistance in identifying the two men in the pictures.”

Anyone with information should call Police in Greenwich on 0208 284 7749 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Bexley Times, 31 July 2009