Iranian man sent for trial over arson attack at Dublin mosque
A 41-year-old Iranian man, Saeid Khosroabadi, was arrested following a fire at the doorway of the Faizan E Madinah Mosque on Talbot Street, Dublin, just before 3.30pm on 29 June 2026, when people including children were inside the building. He is charged with committing arson, causing criminal damage, and endangering life, and is alleged to have told gardaí he was opposed to sharia law in Ireland and did not care if children died. Bail was denied on 1 July 2026 and he was remanded in custody. On 20 August 2026, Judge Alan Mitchell granted a return for trial order sending him to Dublin Circuit Court, where the case is listed for mention on 8 October 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Aug
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A fire broke out at the doorway of the Faizan E Madinah Mosque on Talbot Street, Dublin, just before 3.30pm on 29 June 2026.
- People, including children, were inside the mosque when the blaze broke out, and the premises were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
- Where
- The mosque is on Talbot Street in the north inner city of Dublin, described by an officer as a very busy area.
- Investigation
- More than 20 firefighters, four engines and gardaí responded after thick smoke engulfed the street.
- Gardaí retained Khosroabadi's phone as an exhibit but had not been able to recover his family's numbers.
- Charges
- Khosroabadi is charged with committing arson and causing criminal damage at the mosque, and Garda Shane Costello brought an additional charge of endangering life.
- In court
- Bail was denied on 1 July 2026 and he was remanded in custody.
- He appeared at Cloverhill District Court on 5 August 2026, and the case was adjourned to 12 August 2026 for prosecutors to serve a book of evidence.
- The DPP directed trial on indictment and Judge Alan Mitchell granted a return for trial order sending him to Dublin Circuit Court, where the case is listed for mention on 8 October 2026.
- Sentence
- The offence on conviction is punishable by a 10-year sentence.
- Other details
- Khosroabadi, who calls himself an anti-Islam activist, told gardaí he was opposed to sharia law in Ireland and did not care if children died in the fire, and told the court he escaped from prison in Iran in 2016 to start a new life.
- He had no legal representation due to ongoing industrial action by solicitors, and raised his inability to contact his family in Iran, who do not know he is in custody.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was arrested following a blaze at the doorway of the Faizan E Madinah Mosque on Talbot Street just before 3.30pm on 29 June 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is an Iranian national who calls himself an anti-Islam activist (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe told gardaí he was opposed to sharia law in Ireland and did not care if children died in the fire (irishtimes.com)
- whatA fire broke out at the doorway of the Faizan E Madinah Mosque on Talbot Street, Dublin, on 29 June 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe officer described the area as very busy. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí retained his phone as an exhibit but had not been able to recover his family's numbers (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is charged with committing arson and causing criminal damage at the mosque (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKhosroabadi was originally charged with committing arson and causing criminal damage at the mosque. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGarda Shane Costello brought an additional charge of endangering life in connection with the blaze. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail was denied on 1 July 2026 and he was remanded in custody (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe appeared at Cloverhill District Court on 5 August 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned until 12 August 2026 for prosecutors to serve a book of evidence (irishtimes.com)
- courtIt had already been held that the case should be transferred to the Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe will appear again on 12 August 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment and the State served Khosroabadi with a book of evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Alan Mitchell granted a return for trial order sending him to Dublin Circuit Court, where the case is listed for mention on 8 October 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe offence on conviction is punishable by a 10-year sentence (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had no legal representation due to ongoing industrial action by solicitors (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe raised his inability to contact his family in Iran, who do not know he is in custody (irishtimes.com)
- otherKhosroabadi was further remanded in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKhosroabadi told gardaí he was opposed to sharia law in Ireland and did not care if children died in the fire. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPeople, including children, were inside the mosque when the blaze broke out. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMore than 20 firefighters, four engines and gardaí responded after thick smoke engulfed the street. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe premises were safely evacuated with no reported injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKhosroabadi said he escaped from prison in 2016 to start a new life. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Aug2026Iranian man accused of carrying out arson attack at Dublin mosque sent forward for trial
DPP directed trial on indictment; additional charge of endangering life added by Garda Shane Costello; sent to Dublin Circuit Court for mention on 8 October 2026; further remanded in custody. Accused made various statements to gardaí and in court about his opposition to Islam.
suspect, Saeid Khosroabadi, 41, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Khosroabadi - 5 Aug2026Dublin mosque arson accused tells court he fled Iran to escape hanging
Khosroabadi addressed Judge Patricia Cronin via video link, stating he escaped from prison in Iran in 2016 to start a new life. He had no legal representation due to the solicitors' strike. The case was adjourned to 12 August 2026 for a book of evidence to be served, and it had already been held that the case should be transferred to the Circuit Court.
suspect, Saeid Khosroabadi, 41, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Khosroabadi