Imam Reza mosque in New Lynn, Auckland, was damaged in a blaze this morning. Photos / Mike Scott
A fire that has left an Auckland mosque gutted this morning was an alleged hate crime, a senior member of the mosque claims.
Firefighters were called to the fire in the Imam Reza Mosque in New Lynn at 9.43am.
A man connected to the Astley Ave religious centre said police were focusing on a back window found smashed this morning.
”It’s crazy,” he said.
“Doing things like this just creates more hatred, more fear.”
The fire was so intense plastic chairs had melted in the blaze, he said.
Nobody was inside the building at the time of the fire.
“I’m just glad no one was hurt, that it wasn’t during prayer time,” he said.
He believed the fire started sometime before 9am.
Ethnic community police liaison officers had also arrived at the scene as the investigation started into the cause of the blaze.
Earlier police called Fire and Emergency NZ to the fire on Astley Ave at 9.43am.
Three fire crews were at the scene from the Avondale Fire Station, along with Mt Roskill and Titirangi crews.
One fire truck remained at 11am.
Three police cars were also at the mosque.
The Herald has approached police for comment.
A swimming pool, a new skate park and cycleways are among the projects at risk.