In Lviv, man is on trial for setting fire to mosque

The Prosecutor's Office has submitted an indictment to court against a nineteen-year-old resident of Lviv. The man is charged with intentional damage to an Islamic religious and cultural center, allegedly motivated by religious hatred, reports the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The investigation established that one evening in April of this year, the accused, with his face concealed, went to the building of the religious institution. He was carrying a bag containing two glass bottles filled with flammable liquid that had been prepared in advance. Using a lighter, the perpetrator set the bottles on fire one after another and threw them toward a microphone stand.

The arson caused a fire that damaged property belonging to the religious community as well as the premises of the shopping center where the Islamic center was located. The total damage exceeded 315,000 hryvnias. Of this amount, more than 215,000 hryvnias in damage was caused directly to the religious community, while more than 100,000 hryvnias was caused to the shopping center.

The accused acted deliberately, fully aware that religious services were being held on the premises. He is charged with intentionally damaging someone else’s property by arson, as well as damaging a religious structure. The pre-trial investigation was conducted by officers of the police and the Security Service of Ukraine in the Lviv region.

As the UOJ reported, a video was shared online showing a street campaign promoting Islam in Dnipro.

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