Dublin court remands man accused over petrol bomb attack on mosque

DUBLIN: A man charged over a petrol bomb attack at a mosque in central Dublin was sent to custody by a court on Wednesday after police opposed his release on bail.

Irish police said Saeid Khosroabadi, 41, was arrested during an investigation into a fire at the entrance of the Faizan E Madinah Mosque on Talbot Street. The case came before Judge Michele Finan, who was told of police objections to bail because of the seriousness of the allegations. She refused bail and ordered that Khosroabadi remain in custody until his next appearance at Cloverhill District Court on July 8.

The court also heard that the accused did not have legal representation. According to RTE, this was because solicitors are taking industrial action in a dispute over legal aid reforms. Solicitor Tracy Horan told the court she was unable to act for him due to that dispute, and about 60 solicitors who were present then left the courtroom in support.

Judge Finan also said the case would be sent forward to the Circuit Court after she declined jurisdiction. She directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to prepare a book of evidence.

Muslim council condemns attack

The Irish Muslim Council denounced the incident and described it as an attack not only on a mosque but also on broader civic values in Ireland.

In a statement, the council said “The Irish Muslim Council strongly condemns the shocking arson attack on a mosque on Talbot Street in Dublin city centre. The reported petrol bomb attack, carried out on a Monday afternoon in broad daylight, is a deeply disturbing assault on a place of worship and an attack on the fundamental values of peace, religious freedom and community safety that Ireland holds dear.”

The organisation said it had repeatedly raised concern about rising anti-Muslim hostility and far-right extremism.

"The Irish Muslim Council has repeatedly warned about the growing threat posed by anti-Muslim hatred and far-right extremism. The attack demonstrates that when hatred is normalised and incitement is left unchecked, the consequences can be grave," it warned.

The council urged police to fully investigate the case and ensure accountability for those responsible.

"We also urge political leaders, social media companies and all sectors of society to confront hate speech, organised intimidation and extremist propaganda before further violence occurs," it urged.