Swedish police say a suspected arson attack at one mosque has injured at least five people while a second mosque in the same town has been vandalised.

Police said the two attacks in the central town of Eskilstuna took place within hours of each other yesterday and early today.

They said 20 people were inside the mosque when the blaze broke out. Two of the injured were treated for smoke inhalation, while the others had minor injuries.

Police spokesman Lars Franzell says a witness had seen someone throwing an object through the mosque's window.

Franzell also says an unidentified passer-by had also broken a window of another mosque and damaged nearby cars.