Saad Sayeed

ISLAMABAD: A mob led by right-wing Muslim clerics tore down the dome and minarets of a 100-year old place of worship belonging to Ahmadi community, officials and the community said on Thursday.

Saleemuddin, a spokesman for the Ahmadi community, said a mob stormed their place of worship complex in Sialkot overnight. He put the number at several hundred.

He said there was collusion between the mob and local government officials, but police denied such accusations.

Asad Sarfraz, a police official, said municipal government officials were at the complex removing what he called “illegal renovation”.

“An emotionally charged mob of people belonging to different groups and segments of society reached there and damaged several parts of the building,” Sarfraz said.

Sarfraz said about 60-70 people were involved and authorities were attempting to identify the attackers.