Two Men Charged in East Sussex Mosque Arson Attack

Two men, Ricky Ryder and Jack Slowey, have been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a fire at the Peacehaven Mosque in East Sussex on October 4, which damaged the mosque's front entrance and a car outside. The arson attack occurred late at night, shortly after the last prayer service, and footage showed the suspects wearing balaclavas and spraying a suspected accelerant before setting the fire. A third man arrested in connection with the incident has been released on conditional bail. The suspects remain in custody and are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court. In response to this hate crime, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an additional £10 million in funding to improve security for Muslim communities, including measures such as CCTV, alarms, and secure fencing. Sir Keir emphasized that attacks on any community threaten national values and pledged government commitment to protecting places of worship from hate and violence.