Police are investigating a suspected car bomb attack at Thornlie Mosque, which took place on Tuesday night while worshippers attended Ramadan evening prayers.
According to police, accelerant was used to set a Toyota Prado alight at about 8pm at the front of Thornlie Islamic College, which is at the back of the mosque.
The fire completely gutted the Prado and damaged three other vehicles parked nearby.
Anti-Islamic graffiti was painted on a wall behind the damaged vehicles.
Three people were seen running down an alleyway next to the college towards Spencer Road.
No one was injured in the attack.
Arab Association president Sam Youssef said he was inside the mosque praying when he heard a big explosion.
“We heard it and we were shocked by the sound of the explosion because you only hear that in Lebanon or Iraq not Australia,” he said.
“It’s really disgusting and unAustralian.”
Thornlie Islamic College executive principal Abdulla Khan said while the mosque and school had been targeted in the past this was the most serious and shocking incident.
“The incidents of graffiti have happened before but I have not witnessed a serious incident like this,” he said.
“It is a hate crime and it does hurt – people are shocked and disappointed.”
He said despite this the community would not be intimidated or panicked and operations at the school would continue as usual.
“We hope incidents like this are not repeated in the future but we have to take it as business as usual and move on,” he said.
“Before school we covered the burnt car and with the help of the City of Gosnells we removed the graffiti so there are no signs that can create panic.
“We have students here as young as four and they would not be able to understand or rationalise it.
“The older students do understand so we have passed on the message of love, harmony, patience and tolerance, which is the theme of this month of Ramadan.”
He said the agenda of the perpetrators was to disrupt prayer and create hatred, fear and suspicion.
“The only way to counter it is to send a different message – that we have the full support of mainstream society.”
A parent at the school Zara Alasadi said while children were not at the school at the time of the attack it was frightening to think about.
She said the school community had become accustomed to being targeted.
“We always get something written on the school and they just clear it out before the kids get there because kids can spell and they say ‘mum, I saw this at school’,” she said.
“It’s disappointing but I guess it’s bound to happen, we know it happens.”
Another parent spoke of her fear following the attack.
“My husband was at the mosque and he heard it happen but I wasn’t there and it wasn’t until later I heard a car was bombed,” she said.
“Today is very frightening and I’m scared.
“My daughter asked what happened and why the news and police are here.”
There have been a number of incidents targeting mosques in the area in recent years including a pig’s head and entrails being thrown at a mosque in Southern River.
Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.
