A suspected arson attack at an Islamic prayer facility in central Dublin has led to the arrest of a man in his 40s, Irish law enforcement confirmed Tuesday. The incident unfolded at approximately 3:35 p.m. local time on Monday at Al Madinah Hall, located on Dublin’s busy Talbot Street.
Thankfully, no people inside or around the building at the time of the blaze suffered injuries, according to updates from Gardaí, the Republic of Ireland’s national police service. Emergency response teams from the Dublin Fire Brigade were quickly dispatched to the scene, where they contained and fully extinguished the fire before it could spread beyond the targeted property. The blaze did leave visible structural and property damage to the prayer hall, though no further details on the extent of the damage have been released to the public.
The suspect taken into custody is currently being held for questioning at a police station in Dublin’s north city district, as investigators continue to piece together the details of the attack. Irish national public broadcaster RTÉ cited sources close to the investigation noting that Gardaí are working along a clear line of inquiry, and have already ruled out any connection between the attack and racist or far-right extremist groups.
In a public appeal for community cooperation, Gardaí have urged any members of the public who were in the area around the time of the incident, or who have relevant surveillance camera footage or information that could advance the probe, to contact the investigation team immediately. The investigation into the suspected arson remains active and ongoing as of this report.