HAMILTON - A 34-year-old Hamilton man has been charged after allegedly setting fire to a local mosque.

Police allege the man was at the Ibrahim Jame Mosque late Wednesday night and was seen lighting a fire in the entranceway.

They say witnesses followed the man as he ran away from the mosque, alerting police as to his whereabouts.

Witnesses also succeeded in extinguishing the fire.

Police say they arrested the man in the neighbourhood of the mosque and charged him with arson.

Police are not releasing the man's name and say the investigation is now in the hands of the Ontario fire marshal.