BERLIN – Unknown perpetrators threw so called Molotov cocktails, also knownas petrol bombs, onto a mosque while an imam was inside the building.

An attack on a mosque in the German town Lauffen am Neckar has prompted apolice inquiry, German newspaper Die Zeit reportedlink>.

A group of unknown perpetrators reportedly threw so-called Molotovcocktails, also known as petrol bombs, onto the building.

Although the move did not lead to any injuries, police have classified thecase as attempted murder, because an imam was inside the building at thetime of the crime.

The damage is estimated at about 5,000 euro and the perpetrators remainunknown.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, there were almost 1,000attacks on Muslims and Muslim institutions committed last year. As a resultof the attacks, 33 people were injured.

Since 2015, the European Union has been facing an acute migration crisisresulting from an influx of asylum seekers and migrants fleeing hostilitiesand crises in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

The crisis partly came as a result of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’sopen door migration policy, which has been criticized by many EU residentsand politicians.

At the same time, Europe has been one of the main targets of terroristattacks by jihadists, which is why some countries have expressed theirdesire to restrict migration for fear of even more terrorists reaching thecontinent in the vast migrant flows. The terrorist threat has also led to arise in right-wing and anti-Islam sentimentslink>in manyEuropean countries.