These exclusive photographs at the Baitul Futuh Mosque show the devastation caused by last week's fire. 

The Wimbledon Guardian was granted exclusive access to the mosque just days after plumes of smoke were seen rising above Merton. 

Wimbledon Times:

The administration building next door to the mosque

It took 70 fire fighters and 10 fire engines to control the blaze on Saturday, September 26, after a fire broke out in the administration buildings of the mosque in London Road, Morden.

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The fire service managed to protect the library and the mosque itself, but the administration buildings were badly damaged.

One man needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation.

Wimbledon Times:

The devastation was clear in this image of the administration building next door to the mosque

Two teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of arson. A 14-year-old has been  bailed until a date in early January, and a 16-year-old was release with no further action. 

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said they did not believe the fire was the result of a hate crime.

 

Wimbledon Times:

The clean-up begins

The mosque, which is used by members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is the largest in western Europe, and recently hosted the biggest convention for Muslims in the UK.

It re-opened for prayers on Friday, October 2, in a ceremony led by the Caliph of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mizra Masroor Ahmad, which was attended by more than 5,000 worshippers and well-wishers.

Wimbledon Times:

Speaking on Friday, spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Worldwide, Farooq Aftab, said: "Everyone is positive, and focused on learning from experience and moving forward.

"It’s been great to see the support from all of the community locally, who have been very helpful. It shows how good our society is, with every one working together.

"We are assessing and looking to get things back to normal as soon as possible, and today is a big part of that.

"We have to be positive in everything we do and be thankful that no one was hurt."