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Mosque fire in Sweden being treated as arson

Police said five people were injured in the fire, which is being investigated as arson.

By Ben Hooper

ESKILSTUNA, Sweden, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Police in Sweden said a mosque fire that injured five people was allegedly started by someone who threw an object through a window.

Investigators said 15 to 20 people were attending midday prayers Thursday at a Somali group's mosque on the ground floor of a residential building in Eskilstuna when the flames erupted.

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Five people were hospitalized with injuries including smoke inhalation and lacerations.

"Two suffer from smoke inhalation, two have cuts and bruises and one has a fracture," police spokesman Lars Franzell told reporters.

"A witness saw somebody throw an object through the window of the building, which serves as a mosque, after which a violent fire began," Franzell said.

Franzell said the incident is being investigated as arson, but no arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon.

Police said they were evacuating the the apartments above the mosque and residents were being taken to emergency accommodations in a nearby youth center.

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