LONDON, June 6 (UPI) -- The fire that gutted an Islamic center and mosque in London is being investigated as suspicious, the Metropolitan Police said Wednesday.
Police said graffiti apparently promoting the English Defense League were found in the area, The Guardian reported. The nationalist anti-immigrant group denies responsibility for the blaze.
The building, which is home to the al-Rahma Islamic Center and the Somali Bravanese Center, was so heavily damaged by the early morning fire investigators were unable to do a full search of the inside, police said. It is located in the North London neighborhood of Muswell Hill.
"The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and is being treated as suspicious at this stage," police said in a statement. "Graffiti reading EDL has been found on the building. Police are investigating any potential connection between the graffiti and the fire."
There has been a spate of anti-Muslim incidents since Lee Rigby, a drummer in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was killed outside his barracks in London May 22. Two African immigrants who converted to Islam have been charged with his murder.
Mohamed Elmi, head of Somali Diaspora UK, said members of his community are frightened. He said the group received about 100 calls in 2 hours Wednesday.
"Fifty percent of the people who have been in touch today ... say they are scared -- scared to leave their homes or women scared to wear their hijabs in the street," he said. "People are really shaken up by this."
