Maputo, Mozambique - Police in the north-western province of Niassa in Mozambique have detained two people for burning down three mosques in the provincial capital of Lichinga, state media reported on Wednesday.
The daily Noticias, quoting police sources, said the two people allegedly burnt down the three mosques in three townships of the city.
Police spokesman Jose Mahunguele, said the mosques were burnt down on August 28 and 30 and on September 3 this year.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the mosques were burnt down because of religious rivalry between Christians and Muslims.
"We do not have concrete details but what we have gathered so far indicates that there were some disputes between people on matters of religion," he said.
Northern Mozambique is dominated by Muslims while Christianity is rapidly spreading with the opening up of new churches.
There were no registered cases of religious violence in Mozambiques Northern provinces.