'We want mosque fire to become something positive'

Muhammad Khan, trustee at Peacehaven Mosque, said he was "very, very excited" to open its doors to the wider community

A trustee at a Sussex mosque which was allegedly set alight says he wants the incident to become "something positive" as it hosts a community open day.

Worshippers at the Peacehaven Mosque were forced to run through fire in October when the front steps of the building caught fire in a reported arson attack, a court was told.

Now, Muhammad Khan says he is "very excited" to open the mosque to members of the community from 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

Two men appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday charged with arson with intent to endanger life and two further charges of arson, ahead of a provisional trial date in December 2026.

Mr Khan said: "We are not hiding away - we are very, very excited.

"Every year we try to do something like this but we got a lot of interest and we want people to see how we can add value in the community.

The outside of Peacehaven Mosque ahead of the open day

"Something bad can become a positive and this has been such a beautiful example of that."

The front of the mosque suffered "significant" damage in the fire on 4 October, and a nearby car was completely burnt out.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood visited the mosque in October following the blaze.

Ricky Ryder, 28, of Richington Way in Seaford, and Jack Slowey, 34, of Mayfield Avenue in Peacehaven, were both remanded in custody and will next appear in court on 27 March, when they are due to enter their pleas.

Zoe Nicholson, leader of Lewes District Council, said: "I was so amazed by [the mosque's] capacity to just carry on and find love in their hearts.

"It would have been so easy to step back, close their doors and operate from a place of fear, but that's not what's happening here."