RELIGIOUS and civic leaders are slamming arsonists who targeted an Islamic centre.

In the space of three days, Greenwich Islamic Centre, Plumstead Road, Woolwich, was targeted twice.

The first incident was on March 2 at 1am after when a window was broken and fuel poured through it.

The centre's caretaker Mohammed Kohalee, 60, who was sleeping at the time, managed to put the fire out in time.

The second incident happened on Sunday evening at 11.15pm when three windows were smashed on the top floor of the centre.

Mr Kohalee saw two white men in their 20s running from the scene.

The Greenwich Islamic Centre's director Dr Tang Abbasi said: "We feel it's disgusting and disgraceful these attempts to damage a building, which is sacred. There is now fear within the muslim community."

This is the third time the centre has been targeted.

Someone tried to set fire to it six months ago after the London bombings.

Dr Abbasi added: "Life must go on and we won't let the offenders make us go away from our religious place.

"We hope the police make every attempt to make these people come to justice. They have committed these atrocities as an attack on our Muslim faith."

Greenwich police's head of crime and operations Superintendent David Cartwright said: "These are criticial incidents and we are treating them as faith-hate crimes. We are doing all we can to catch the offenders.

"Our lines of enquiries are restricted that's why we are looking at ways to work with the mosque to prevent future offences in the future to make the community feel safer."

Council leader Councillor Chris Roberts said: "It's shocking to hear of any attack at a place of worship.

"We work closely with the police and with faith groups to build harmony between communities across the borough, and these mindless actions will not deter us from our commitment to social unity."