A British man charged over an arson attack at a former synagogue in east London last week was in contact with someone using an Iraqi phone number shortly before the fire, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday.

Moses Edwards, 45, from Wanstead, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody until a further hearing next month. He gave no indication of any plea.

No further information about Edwards or his alleged contact was immediately available.

A 52-year-old woman who was also arrested in connection to the incident has been released on bail until August.

The fire at the former East London Central Synagogue was caused by wine bottles filled with an accelerant, which exploded, damaging the outside of the building, prosecutors said.

The building is in the process of being turned into a mosque and community center, after it was purchased by a Muslim organization earlier this year.

The incident followed a series........

© The Times of Israel