A 19-year-old man has appeared in Waitakere District Court charged with arson and burglary after a fire at an Auckland mosque.
Emergency services were called to Imam Reza Mosque in New Lynn just after 9am yesterday, following a report of a fire that was believed to have been deliberately lit.
The man appeared today via video link and has been granted interim name suppression.
It’s alleged the man broke into the building just before 1am and set the fire. The fire continued to smoulder until just after 9am when it became visible and emergency services were called.
Police were still working to establish the intentions behind the alleged burglary and arson.
An increased police presence was expected across all Auckland mosques as investigations continued.
The man was due to appear in court again on November 26.
