A Muslim place of worship was destroyed by fire overnight from Friday to Saturday in Rambouillet (Yvelines), AFP learned from the police and the prosecution, who favor the criminal track. According to the first elements of the investigation, residents of this “prayer tent” reported having seen around 1 a.m. “two people leave the premises quickly with a can (and) then saw the flames of blue color significant of the presence of hydrocarbon”, specified a police source, which privileges “an intentional fact”. According to another police source, also citing witnesses, the two men fled “with a jerrycan on board a two-wheeler”.
An investigation was opened for “arson” or “willful destruction by incendiary means” by the Versailles prosecutor’s office, which entrusted the investigations to the PJ of Versailles. No suspect was arrested immediately, said the prosecution, requested by AFP. “Solidarity with the Muslims of Rambouillet who saw their place of worship destroyed by fire last night. An investigation is open and will shed light on its origin”, reacted on Twitter the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin.
Solidarity with the Muslims of Rambouillet who saw their place of worship destroyed by fire last night. An investigation is open and will shed light on its origin. I spoke with @auroreberge , @gerard_larcher and @VMatillon.
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) September 3, 2022
“A fire broke out last night in our tent and despite the rapid intervention of the firefighters and their efforts everything caught fire and there is nothing left except the metal structures”, commented on a Facebook post. the Association of Muslims of Rambouillet (AMR). “No one was there, the damage is only material,” added the association.
An act condemned by the associations
The burnt prayer tent was installed several years ago in the Louvière district of Rambouillet, pending the construction of a “permanent” mosque. “For four years, we have been working very closely with the town hall, the AMR and the council of Muslim institutions of Yvelines (Cimy) to work on a lasting solution. The municipality agrees on the principle”, explained to AFP the prefect of Yvelines, Jean-Jacques Brot.
“Sustainability is very close, we reiterated that the AMR had to file its new statutes under the 1905 law and that it respond to the latest details requested from the architect by the town hall’s urban planning department so that the building permit can be processed and issued”, continued the prefect, “appalled by this incident”, “a miserable act”. Contacted by AFP, Véronique Matillon, the mayor of Rambouillet, did not respond immediately. On Twitter, the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (Licra) expressed “its solidarity with the faithful of the Rambouillet mosque”.
⚫️ La Licra expresses its solidarity with the faithful of the Rambouillet mosque, destroyed by a fire on the night of September 2 to 3. We will closely follow the results of the investigation opened and will act accordingly.https://t.co/p3DSuiBYGY
— Licra (@_LICRA_) September 3, 2022
“The Union of French Mosques (UMF) strongly condemns the arson attack on the Rambouillet mosque. The UMF expresses its full support to the faithful and those responsible for the mosque and hopes that the perpetrators of this despicable crime be arrested,” tweeted Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the UMF.
The UMF strongly condemns the arson attack on the Rambouillet mosque on 2 September. The UMF expresses its full support for the worshipers and officials of the mosque and hopes that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are arrested.
—Mohammed Moussaoui (@PresidentUmf) September 3, 2022
The rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, assured him of all “(s) total solidarity with the #Muslims of this city”.