'Anti-Islam activist' facing trial over mosque arson further charged with endangering life

Tom Tuite

A self-described anti-Islam activist facing trial over an arson attack at a Dublin mosque told gardaí he did not know anyone was inside when he was further charged with endangering life on Wednesday.

Saeid Khosroabadi (41) of Seville Place, Dublin 1, was arrested following a blaze at the doorway of the Faizan E Madinah Mosque on Talbot Street, in the north inner city, just before 3.30pm on June 29th.

It is alleged the Iranian national, who calls himself an anti-Islam activist, told gardaí he was opposed to sharia law in Ireland and did not care if children died in the fire.

Khosroabadi was charged with committing arson, causing criminal damage at the mosque.

The offence, on conviction, is punishable by a 10-year sentence.

Bail was denied on July 1, when he was remanded in custody, and he appeared again at Cloverhill District Court.

Garda Shane Costello levelled an additional charge for endangering life in connection with the blaze. Judge Alan Mitchell noted that Khosroabadi replied, "When I fired the door [sic] of mosque, I did not know anyone inside."

The accused had no legal representation due to ongoing industrial action, in which solicitors have withdrawn services in a row over changes to fees for District Court legal aid cases.

The judge noted that Khosroabadi had a solicitor acting for him in a pending High Court bail application.

It had already been held that the case should be transferred to the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers. Prosecutors must serve him with a book of evidence before the granting of a return for trial order.

The judge remanded Khosroabadi in continuing custody to appear again next week.

Last week, the accused told the court that he was from an Islamic country and had been tortured because "all my life, I said no".

"I did not accept Islam; I said Islam is not my religion; they wanted to hang me, the radical Islamic religion of Iran. I escaped in 2016, from prison to start a new life," he said.

At a bail hearing six weeks ago, it was stated that during the course of his Garda interview, Khosroabadi stated he was "disappointed" that the mosque had not burned down.

Emergency services, including over 20 firefighters, four engines, and gardaí, responded after thick smoke engulfed the street.

The premises were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.

Garda Costello told the bail hearing that Khosroabadi's reply to the arson charge was "I tried to set a mosque on fire, that is what I did, yes".

Costello had objected to bail, fearing the accused would go to the mosque and "attempt to attack it or the people inside again".

He had alleged that Khosroabadi, who claimed he was drunk that day, filled up a litre bottle with petrol at a local garage and went to the area.

Costello said witnesses reported that a male had poured an accelerant on the front door of the mosque and set it alight.

The officer described the area as very busy. A witness allegedly heard the same man shout, "I will finish this mosque; I will fire this mosque. I don't like them to be here."

Several people, including children, were present inside the mosque when the blaze broke out.

Following enquiries, gardaí arrested the accused at his flat, and he allegedly said, "I hate Islam. I burned the mosque, and when you release me, I will burn it again".