FIRE ripped through a Swedish mosque early today in the second suspected arson attack on a Muslim centre in four days.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the southern town of Eslov and local media reported that no-one had been injured.

“We are working under the assumption that it is arson,” said police spokeswoman Marie Keismar.

Five people were injured when fire broke out in another mosque in the Swedish town of Eskilstuna on Christmas Day.

The country is caught up in a fierce debate on immigration.

Polls have shown the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats winning some votes away from both the centre right and centre left.

The racist group, which is now Sweden’s third biggest party, says that if elected it would cut the number of asylum-seekers winning residence in the country by 90 per cent.

Mainstream parties have promised to preserve the nation’s traditionally more open stance.