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German police arrest suspect linked to mosque arson attacks

By IRNA,

Berlin : German police arrested a suspect in connection with a wave of arson attacks on Berlin mosques over the past months, the Berlin-based daily Berliner Morgenpost reported Friday.

Berlin special police forces arrested an unidentified 30-year-old man at a metro station in the German capital.

He is accused of being responsible for the firebombing of at least three mosques, Berliner Morgenpost cited security circles as saying.
The suspect has reportedly confessed to the crimes, however there has been no official confirmation yet.

A judge could issue an arrest warrant for the man as early as Saturday, according to Berliner Morgenpost.

Berlin mosques have been the scene of at least seven arson attacks since June 2010.

Last month, the Iranian Islamic Culture Center was firebombed, triggering a strong condemnation by Berlin’s Mayor Klaus Wowereit.

The Sehitlik Mosque, Berlin’s biggest mosque, has been arson attacked four times over the past months.

German Muslim leaders have repeatedly voiced strong concern over the ongoing firebombings against mosques, calling for stepped up security measures.

The center-right government of Chancellor Angela Merkel has tried to downplay the latest series of anti-Muslim hate crimes as a result of deepening Islamophobia in Germany.