Arson investigation underway after open gas bottle found at Queensland mosque fire

Police have launched an arson investigation after an open gas bottle was discovered at the scene of a small fire in a mosque in the regional town of Toowoomba.

Emergency services were called to the West Street mosque about 1.30pm after attendees noticed a strong smell of gas.

Firefighters found an open gas bottle inside a meeting room adjacent to the main mosque building.

Police said a small fire in a plastic bin had already been extinguished and, as the gas failed to ignite, damage was minimal.

"We're treating it as suspicious," a Queensland Police Services spokesman said.

Toowoomba's mosque opened early last year to cater to the regional town's small but growing Muslim community.

Islamic Society of Toowoomba founding president Professor Shahjahan Khan says it looks as though someone's tried to burn the mosque's office door and leak gas into the main meeting hall.

"It's just out of expectations that this kind of attempt to burn places of worship can happen," Professor Khan said.

"I hope that it's going to unite the community more than anything else.

"If it's a place of worship, it's a place of worship - people should respect it regardless of their personal beliefs."

The Islamic Society of Toowoomba purchased the former Westside Christian Church property last year after extensive fundraising by the Muslim community.

Previously local Muslims met in the nearby University of Southern Queensland.