Just before 4am this morning, the front door of the Jamia Masjid Abu Huraira - also known as Beeston Central Mosque - on Hardy Street was deliberately set alight using what is thought to have been flammable liquid. Fire crews managed to contain the blaze before it spread.

At around the same time, a fire was reported at the nearby Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, a Sikh gurdwara on Lady Pit Lane. The front door was alight and damage was caused to the door and a pillar.

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Detective Inspector Richard Holmes, of Leeds District CID, said:

“We are treating both these incidents as linked given the closeness of the locations and the similar times that they have occurred.

“While our investigation is still at a relatively early stage, we do believe these premises have been specifically targeted as places of worship and we are treating both incidents as arson and hate crimes.

“We are currently carrying out extensive enquiries, including checks on CCTV in both areas, and we would like to hear from anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity or seen any person or vehicles in the areas around the time these incidents have occurred.

“We would also like to hear from anyone who has any other information that could assist the investigation.

“Clearly we will always treat incidents of this nature very seriously and will be doing everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

Inspector Ian O’Brien, who heads neighbourhood policing for south Leeds, said:

“These incidents will cause an understandable level of concern in both the Muslim and Sikh communities in this area and we are working closely with key representatives from those communities to reassure them.

“Although it appears both locations have been specifically targeted as places of worship for these communities, there is nothing at this stage to suggest they are part of any wider pattern.

“We have increased our patrols of the area to provide visible reassurance to people living there and will continue to keep key community representatives informed as the investigation develops.