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March 26, 2006
UK: Mosque Collapses During Funeral
Some mosques are special purpose-built edifices, but where communities are small, or developing, any building can serve as a mosque. The Muslim community of Lozells Road, Handsworth, learned to their cost today that making use of a semi-derelict building, a former corner shop, can be dangerous.
News from the BBC and 6abcLocal reports thatthis derelict building was being employed as a mosque for a funeral service, for a 23 year old man who had died of leukaemia.
As mourners surged forward to view the coffin around 1 pm today, the 100-year old floorboards gave way, sending most of the congregation tumbling into the basement 15 feet beneath them.
Fortunately no-one was killed. 16 people were taken to hospital, with most of them suffering fractures and bruising. No-one had life-threatening injuries.
West Midlands Fire Service representatives searched in the debris of the basement for several hours, to ensure no-one was trapped.
Apparently around 70 people had crowded into the disused shop for the funeral.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 26, 2006 7:04 PM
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