Fire Breaks Out at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

As the Notre Dame cathedral was in flames, a fire also broke out at the historic Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

The mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. Social media footage showed smoke and fire emerging from the roof of a structure known as the Marwani Prayer Room, according to Newsweek. The Palestinian News Agency quoted a guard as saying: “…the fire brigade of the Islamic Waqf handled the matter successfully,” Newsweek reported.

Newsweek, citing a report from Al-Mamlaka TV in Jordan, said the fire started in a courtyard and may have been caused by children playing in the area.

Still, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned anyone against targeting the holy site, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. He stressed the need to preserve Al-Aqsa's "great religious and humanitarian value."

• Notre Dame Blaze Is Out, Probably Accidental
• French President Macron: "We'll Rebuild Notre Dame Together"