Fire damages 600-year-old mosque in northern Greece

Sultan Bayezid mosque had been undergoing renovations; cause of blaze remains unconfirmed

By Mehmet Hatipoglu

KOMOTINI, Greece (AA) - A historic Ottoman-era mosque in northern Greece which was undergoing renovations was severely damaged in an early-morning fire on Wednesday, according to local media.

The cause of the blaze in the mostly wooden Sultan Bayezid mosque in Didymoteicho town remains unknown.

However, Greek news agency ANA-MPA reported that an electrical fault could be responsible. Culture Ministry official Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki is expected to visit the site later on Wednesday.

The wooden roof of the mosque, which was a special architectural feature, was completely destroyed, ANA-MPA added.

Construction of the Sultan Bayezid mosque, also known as the Sultan Celebi Mehmet mosque, started in 1389 and was completed in 1420, during the early-Ottoman era.

In 2010 the Greek authorities decided to restore the mosque; work was due to be finished this year.

The building had been closed to worship.

* Fatih Hafiz Mehmet also contributed to this story from Ankara.

Kaynak: