Police are investigating an apparent arson attack at a Kosher restaurant in Manchester.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at JS Restauraunt in Prestwich shortly before 4AM early Tuesday. Crews battled the flames for more than an hour. The ground floor of the restaurant sustained serious damage. JS Restaurant is the oldest Kosher eatery in Manchester, founded in 1956.

Greater Manchester Police said it has launched an investigation, but no arrests have yet been made.

The Community Security Trust, a local charity which monitors anti-Semitism, said: “We are working very closely with GMP but there is no specific information at this time to prove that the attack was or was not anti-Semitic and we don’t want to jump to any conclusions about what has occurred. We will be sending out security advice to restaurants and shops in Greater Manchester today but this is purely precautionary.”

Sources tell YWN there appeared to be an attempted arson at another Manchester eatery earlier this week. Surveillance footage shows two males launching petrol bombs at Ta’am Restaurant. Ta’am, was itself a victim of a suspected arson attack on a Friday night in May 2016.

(Nat Golden – YWN / Photo via Manchester Evening News)