Incident Summary:

04/20/2008: On Sunday before dawn, a group of ten neo-Nazis, named "LW," burned a mosque in Toulouse, Alsace province, France. The entrance hall of the Colomiers mosque was burned after the culprits set fire to an indoor trash can. The room reserved for ritual washing was also sacked. No casualties were reported and no claim of responsibility was made for the incident.

GTD ID:
200804200018

When:
2008-04-20

Country:
France

Region:
Western Europe

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Midi-Pyrenees

City:
Toulouse

Location Details:
The arson attack took place at a mosque in Toulouse, Alsace province, France.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Colomiers mosque
Specific Description The Colomiers mosque
Nationality of Target France
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Weapon Details
An unknown incendiary device was used in the arson attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information On 12/17/2008 on Wednesday, a court convicted the ten members responsible for the arson attack and sentenced the two leaders of the group to three-year prison terms with 18 months suspended, the maximum handed down. The group must pay €17,500 ($25,025).
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
LW No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 10
Number of Captured Perpetrators 10
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Associated Press, "Court Convicts Ten Neo-Nazis in Mosque Burning," Lexis Nexis, Associated Press, December 17, 2008.
Associated Press Worldstream, "Overnight Arson Slightly Damages Mosque in Southern France," Lexis Nexis, Associated Press Worldstream, April 20, 2008.