Man Arrested in Connection with Fire at Imam Ali Mosque in Järfälla

According to Stockholm Police, a man has been arrested in connection with a fire at the Imam Ali Mosque and Islamic Center in Järfälla.

According to Lars Bystrom, police spokesperson, speaking to Swedish Radio, the man was initially taken to police for interrogation. After questioning, the prosecutor issued a temporary arrest warrant for him at 15:08 on Monday.

In footage from security cameras at the mosque, a suspicious individual was seen loitering around the mosque.

No information has been released about the identity of the arrested person or his motives. According to police, since the investigation is at a “sensitive” stage, no further information will be made public at this time.

Severe Fire at Imam Ali Mosque and Islamic Center in Järfälla

Stockholmians – The Imam Ali Islamic Center in Järfälla, considered the largest Shiite mosque in Stockholm and Sweden, caught fire with extensive dimensions in the late hours of Sunday evening. Emergency services with a large number of firefighters continued efforts to control the fire until the early hours of Monday morning. Between 30 and 35 firefighters were called to the scene to control and extinguish the fire.

According to eyewitnesses and Michael Lund, head of the rescue team, the fire started from one of the wooden walls in the external section of the building.

The fire alarm reached emergency services at 23:14 on Sunday night. According to the newspaper Aftonbladet, assessments indicated the fire was deliberate, and the security police (SÄPO) were informed. No other information has been released by official authorities in this regard.

Tobias Aukesön from Stockholm’s rescue center told an SvT reporter that the fire was severe and extensive, and when firefighters arrived at the scene, flames were shooting from the roof of the building.

No information has been reported about possible casualties from this fire. Until 22:00 on Sunday, a number of people were present at the mosque for a religious holiday, and when the fire was discovered at 23:14, most of them had left the premises. Four people were in the building at the time of the fire preparing it for a religious holiday the following day.

According to SvT, approximately 3,000 books are also located in the library section of this center, which is considered the largest Shiite mosque in Stockholm and all of Sweden. Due to heavy smoke, emergency responders were unable to enter the building to make an accurate assessment of damages. The mosque and Islamic center is located in a large building with 3,500 square meters of floor space, and discovering the fire in one section initially made precise assessment difficult.

The mosque’s spokesperson told an SvT reporter:

– Our initial assessment is that approximately 30 to 50 percent of the building has been damaged. That is what we know at this moment.

A number of members of this large Islamic Shiite mosque and center came to the site following this fire.

The mosque’s spokesperson told SvT:

– We are very sorry. This is the largest Shiite mosque in Stockholm, with thousands of members. Right now dozens of people have come to the scene. They are very concerned. I feel deeply anxious and am filled with stress and sorrow.

Tobias Aukesön from Stockholm’s rescue center told SvT regarding the damage:

– The mosque has been damaged both by the fire and the smoke resulting from it, as well as by water, and at least three more hours will be needed to completely control the fire.

The Imam Ali Mosque and Islamic Center in Stockholm serves a large number of Iranians living in Stockholm and Sweden by handling religious affairs, including matters such as marriage and divorce. Official registration of marriage and divorce in Iran’s civil registry system is only possible after the religious portion is completed.

Source: Stockholmians