Imam dies in mosque arson attack in Belgian capital
Police and forensics experts were in attendance at the scene
An imam has been killed in a fire at a Shia mosque in the Brussels suburb of Anderlecht, in what is believed to have been a deliberate attack.
The mayor of Anderlecht was quoted by local media as saying the suspect had thrown a petrol bomb at the mosque on Monday evening.
Initial reports say the imam, 47, died of smoke inhalation and that one other person was injured.
Officials were quoted as saying a man was detained at the mosque.
"A suspect was taken into custody at the scene," police spokeswoman Marie Verbeke told AFP news agency.
"A dozen worshippers were waiting to pray when someone entered with a bag," eyewitness Azzedine Laghmish told national broadcaster RTBF.
"Inside there was a container full of petrol which he threw into the centre of the room", Mr Laghmish said.
"The fire took hold very quickly. The imam tried to put it out but he found himself stuck in a room", he added.
Local media reports say dozens of local people have gathered near the mosque.
Belgian Interior Minister Joelle Milquet said she was "very shocked by the events that have occurred."
The area around Anderlecht (marked in red) is home to a large number of Muslim immigrants
An imam in the Belgian municipality of , near the capital, , has died following a suspected arson attack at a Shia mosque.

It is thought the mosque was attacked by a man wielding an axe, petrol and Molotov cocktails on Monday evening. The imam, in his mid-forties, reportedly died of smoke inhalation while trying to put out the resulting blaze. Another person was injured during the attack.

Police spokeswoman Marie Verbeck confirmed the death, and said a suspect has been arrested in connection with the fire. Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

Belgium's interior minister  said: "This person went in to the mosque hurling statements linked to the Syrian conflict. It appears to be a problem between Sunnis and Shias ... Belgium will not tolerate this type of act and the importing of this type of conflict on its territory".

She stressed that details on the motive for the crime are unclear. The area around Anderlecht is home to a large number of Muslim immigrants. The last imam to have been killed in an attack in Belgium's capital was  Abdullah Muhammad al Ahdal, who was shot in 1989.