Emergency services were called to the mosque in Eslöv, a small city in the south of the country, at around 3.15am on Monday. It is understood that the blaze began after flammable liquid caught fire in one of the rooms in the building.
Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and were able to prevent the fire spreading, although the flames still caused minor damage to the building. Firefighters suspect foul play. "There is no possible natural explanation for this type of fire to break out" by itself, fire department spokesman Gustaf Sandell told public radio. Police have cordoned of the area as investigations continue.
Mosques in Sweden have been subject to growing numbers of attacks in recent months. The fire comes less than a week after several people were hurt in a separate fire at a mosque in Eskilstuna in central Sweden on Christmas Day. Police say they are unable to confirm whether the blaze there was started on purpose.
Sweden, known for tolerance and refugee-friendly policies, saw an extreme right party, the Sweden Democrats, become the third-largest force in parliament in legislative elections in September. In early December, the party brought down the government after less than three months by refusing to back its budget proposal in parliament.
On Saturday the government announced it had reached a deal with the opposition that will enable it to remain in power and to avert the country's first snap elections in more than half a century, but the far right has threatened to hold a no-confidence vote.
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