25 000 Muslim rioters left a trail of destruction in southeastern Bangladesh as they torched Buddhist temples and homes over the weekend near the town of Ramu. The group chanted “God is Great” while setting fire to the centuries-old temples.

The violence was sparked by a photo posted on Facebook that allegedly insulted Islam. It is believed the photo features a burned copy of the Quran. The rioters blamed the photo on a local Buddhist boy, though it was not immediately clear if the boy actually posted the photo.

A local journalist, Sunil Barua, who was on the scene when it happend, recounts what he saw:

I have seen 11 wooden temples, two of them 300-years-old, torched by the mob. At least another 100 houses were also damaged. They looted precious items and Buddha statues from the temples. Shops owned by Buddhists were also looted.

According to the Bangladeshi Home Minister, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, the attacks were preplanned, and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The attack was conducted in a coordinated manner. Temples and houses were set on fire using petrol and gun powder. It would have been impossible if the attacks were not planned.

Here are some images taken in the aftermath:

[Source: RT]