Sydney, Australia: A firebomb attack outside an Australian mosque while worshipers were at prayer was condemned today by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, with one Islamic leader calling it a "hate crime".
No one was injured in Tuesday night's blast which destroyed a car parked outside a mosque and Islamic college in the Perth suburb of Thornlie.
"It is believed an accelerant was used to start the fire," Western Australian police said in a statement, adding that three other vehicles were damaged in the incident.
"Anti-Islamic graffiti was located spray painted on a wall associated with the college, near the damaged vehicles."
The mosque's Yahya Adel Ibrahim said the community in Perth had been visited "by hate" but would not retaliate by "hating and playing blame games".
"This, undoubtedly is a criminal act of hate, but it is the act of a person or group not the greater whole," he said on Facebook.
"Despite what just transpired, everyone stayed to finish their prayers, refusing to give into the terror that had just occurred."
Anti-Islam sentiment became more prominent in Australia last year as concerns mounted over homegrown extremism and citizens traveling to Iraq and Syria to support terrorists groups.
But Turnbull, who faces a general election on Saturday, said Australia had a fundamental foundation of mutual respect.
"I deplore and I cannot condemn strongly enough any attacks of that kind," he told radio station 6PR.
Australian Islamic College executive principal Abdullah Khan said while the attack came as a shock, he had been reassured by the support from the community.
At the last national census in 2011, Muslims made up less than three percent of the overall Australian population of 24 million, with the overwhelming majority of the country identifying as Christian.
No one was injured in Tuesday night's blast which destroyed a car parked outside a mosque and Islamic college in the Perth suburb of Thornlie.
"It is believed an accelerant was used to start the fire," Western Australian police said in a statement, adding that three other vehicles were damaged in the incident.
The mosque's Yahya Adel Ibrahim said the community in Perth had been visited "by hate" but would not retaliate by "hating and playing blame games".
Advertisement
"Despite what just transpired, everyone stayed to finish their prayers, refusing to give into the terror that had just occurred."
Advertisement
But Turnbull, who faces a general election on Saturday, said Australia had a fundamental foundation of mutual respect.
Advertisement
Australian Islamic College executive principal Abdullah Khan said while the attack came as a shock, he had been reassured by the support from the community.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Gautam Adani Hosts Ex Australia PM, Says His Vision Is "Truly Inspiring" Scott Morrison "Deliberately Deceived" France: Ex Australian PM On Submarine Deal Teen Who Egged Senator To Donate Funds To Christchurch Attack Survivors 3 Students Dead After Flooding In Delhi Coaching Centre Basement At Olympics Opening Ceremony, Drag Parody Of 'The Last Supper' Draws Flak Teen Rapes, Kills Sister After Watching Porn, Family Helps In Cover-Up "In 4 Years, You Won't Have To Vote Again," Donald Trump Tells Christians "Leftists Hijacked Olympics": Kangana Ranaut On "The Last Supper" Act Post Office GDS Recruitment: 44,228 Posts For 10th-Pass, Apply By August 5 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.