Mosque Arsonist Admits Fire But Denies Targeting Worshippers

IQNA – A man who has pleaded guilty to torching a mosque in Peacehaven, England, insists he did not intend to harm the Muslims who were inside the building at the time.

Ricky Ryder, 38, pleaded guilty to arson that was reckless as to whether life was endangered, but denied that he had intended to endanger anyone’s lives after an attack on Peacehaven Mosque, located in East Sussex, on the night of October 4, 2025.

Ryder, from Seaford, also pleaded not guilty to two other counts of arson linked to a car outside the mosque which was also damaged in the incident.

Sussex, 34, from Peacehaven, pleaded not guilty to four counts related to the attack in the hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday.

The pair are both due to stand trial at Kingston Crown Court in December.

Peacehaven Mosque was occupied and lights were on when a fire was allegedly started with accelerant on its front steps.

Three other people were arrested in March on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with the mosque attack.

The attack came as part of a growing trend of mosques being targeted across the UK amid rising Islamophobia in Britain.

A report released in November 2025 revealed a sharp surge in anti-Muslim hate and mosque attacks across the UK.

The British Muslim Trust (BMT) was appointed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to monitor and respond to anti-Muslim hate crimes.

Its first report, titled “A Summer of Division,” compiles data from the months following its establishment in July and verified 27 attacks on mosques, with some being targeted repeatedly.

This is a significant jump from the prior six-month period, when only four attacks were recorded through public data.

The nature of the attacks escalated sharply, from hate graffiti and threatening signage to violent assaults and a life-threatening arson attempt.

The increase began with a single incident in July, followed by seven in August, nine in September, and another nine in October.

The trend indicates a shift not just in numbers but in intent, as attackers increasingly used national and religious symbols to threaten and marginalize Muslim communities.

Source: 5pillarsuk.com