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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: September 25, 2006 |
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Vandals attacked two mosques in France early Sunday, setting fire to one in the western city of Quimper and scrawling insults on the walls of another in Carcassonne, in the south, officials said.
Muslims began their celebration of Ramadan, a period of prayer and fasting, on Sunday.
Firefighters called to the scene at 4:20 a.m. extinguished the blaze at the Penhars Mosque in Quimper, in the Brittany region of western France, said Philippe Paolantoni, deputy prefect of the region. Swastikas were scrawled on the outside walls. The prosecutor's office opened an investigation.
Damage to the mosque was modest despite the fact four fires were set inside the Penhars Mosque, one of two Muslim places of worship in Quimper. A window was found open, apparently used for access to the mosque, Paolantoni said, adding that a passer-by alerted firefighters after seeing swastikas scrawled on the outer walls and flames inside.
In the Medieval city of Carcassonne, in southern France, racist insults were scrawled on walls of the mosque there, according to the prefecture of the Aude region. An investigation was opened there, too.
Surveillance was increased around Muslim and Jewish places of worship after racist and anti-Semitic attacks peaked. However, reports of such vandalism have recently been on the wane. |
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