Turkish-Muslim group calls probe into mosque fire in Germany

BERLIN-Anadolu Agency

Turkish-Muslim association IGMG has called for a complete and thorough investigation into suspected arson attack on May 25 at a mosque in the western German city of Hagen.

“We urge the law enforcement authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation, to trace the perpetrators and put them behind the bar,” IGMG's President Kemal Ergun said in a statement.

The group's mosque in Hagen has suffered serious damage after an unidentified person set fire to garbage bins in front of the building.

Security camera footage released on Saturday showed a man with two dogs walking near the garbage bins before the fire.

Germany has witnessed growing Islamophobia and hatred of migrants in recent years triggered by the far-right parties, which have exploited fears over the refugee crisis and terrorism.

Police recorded 813 hate crimes against Muslims last year. At least 54 Muslims were injured in the attacks, which were carried out mostly by far-right extremists.

Germany, a country of over 81 million people, has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. Among the country's nearly 4.7 million Muslims, 3 million are of Turkish origin.