A MAN in his forties has been arrested after a suspected arson attack at an Islamic prayer hall in Dublin.

The attack, in which no-one was injured, took place at the Al Madinah Hall on Talbot Street in the Irish capital at about 3.35 local time on Monday.

The man arrested in connection with the investigation is being detained at a police station in the north city area of Dublin.

A police investigation into the blaze is ongoing.

Irish broadcaster RTE reported that officers were following a definite line of inquiry and do not believe the attack was linked to racist or far-right elements.

Police have appealed to anyone with information or footage to come forward.

The Irish Independent reported that the suspect was previously known to police for minor offences linked to “extremely drunken behaviour.”

Irish Muslim Council chairman Shaykh Dr Umar al-Qadri described the suspected arson attack as “shocking” and strongly condemned the incident.

He said it followed weeks of “repeated intimidation directed at this mosque.”