Police investigate 9/11 fire at Manchester Airport prayer room
16.09.10
Police are ‘keeping an open mind’ about a suspected arson attack at an Islamic prayer room at Manchester Airport, MEN reports. The cabin is used by taxi drivers and airport staff for worship, and the blaze broke out on Saturday – the ninth anniversary of 9/11. Detectives are investigating whether there was a religious or racial motive to the blaze.
The cabin, on the airport’s taxi feeder car park on Ringway Road, is one of several which have been provided for recreational use by drivers waiting for customers. The site is separate to the five prayer rooms in the airport terminal, which are part of the airport’s multi-faith chaplaincy. Two ceremonial garments inside the room were deliberately set ablaze between 22:00 and midnight, although the building itself was not damaged.
Officers are reviewing CCTV footage from the scene. The area around the taxi ranks is open to the public and drivers say it would be easy for anyone to get to the area. However, some have pointed to ongoing tensions between the drivers themselves. One driver told the newspaper: ‘There has been racial tension in the park for many years now.’
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book manchester airport hotel or manchester airport car park at the lowest price, click on these links to two great Manchester airport car parking and Manchester airport hotel price comparison pages.
