‘We are TERRIFIED!’ Birmingham Muslim community fear MORE attacks after mosques vandalised
BIRMINGHAM’S Muslim community is on high alert after five mosques in the city were vandalised with sledgehammers in a six-hour crime spree, with many now worried about further brutal attacks.
Birmingham mosque: Community clear glass after hammer attack
Police received reports of a man smashing windows with the weapon on Birchfield Road at 2.30am. They were then alerted to a similar attack on Slade Road Eddington just 45 minutes later, with further reported incidents in Aston and Perry Barr. A fifth mosque on Albert Road was attacked at 10am. West Midlands Police have yet to establish a motive and are studying CCTV footage of the attacks in their search for the perpetrators.
The Muslim community in the Midlands city has reacted with shock and anger, with many now living in fear of further attacks.
As a result, they are appealing to the police for more help and protection against any future violence.
Slade Road mosque President Khalid Mohammed told Birmingham Live: "We are absolutely devastated. Following the mosque attacks in New Zealand, security around our Friday prayers gatherings were increased, and the police were present.
"We are grateful that nobody was present and nobody was hurt, but it is terrifying that people want to attack us in this way."
I said last week that Muslims were afraid after the terrorist attacks in #ChristChurch. The Muslim community is fearful of more attacks, and we need @WMPolice to step up patrols
Bromford and Hodge Hill Councillor Majid Mahmood tweeted: "I said last week that Muslims were afraid after the terrorist attacks in #ChristChurch .
“The Muslim community is fearful of more attacks, and we need @WMPolice to step up patrols.”
Adil Parker from the Birmingham Council of Mosques said the attacks didn’t come as a shock because of the mass shootings at mosques in Christchurch, New Zeland last week, which left 50 dead.
He told Birmingham Live: “We are appalled but not shocked.
“It’s not been a week since what’s happened in New Zealand and we always expected some bigot to show themselves up.
“In 2019, we can’t be expected to live in fear.”
Sharafat Ali, the Imam of the Witton Islamic Centre, also appealed for the police step up the security and patrols provided to them.
He said: “Its terrible, the community is shocked because of what’s happened in New Zealand.
"We’ve been here for 30 years. In the morning you get 40 worshippers for morning prayer, on Friday you get about two to three hundred.
“This doesn’t happen in Aston.
“Tomorrow is Friday prayers and I don’t know what’s going up happen. We are asking the police to give us more security.”
Home Secretary Sajid Javid also condemned the sledgehammer attacks on the five mosques in Birmingham, sending a clear message to the perpetrators.
He tweeted: “Deeply concerning & distressing to see number of mosques have been vandalised in Birmingham overnight.
“@WMPolice are investigating motive but let me be clear - hateful behaviour has absolutely no place in our society & will never be accepted.”
Following the latest attacks, patrols have been stepped up across the city ahead of Friday prayers tomorrow.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson warned Birmingham "will not allow these extreme acts that attempt to divide us".
He said in a statement: "These are shocking incidents which appear to have been designed to cause distress and alarm.
"Attacks of this nature have no place in our community and will not be tolerated. I want to reassure people that West Midlands Police is doing all it can to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"Patrols will be significantly increased near mosques.
"People will be horrified by these attacks on the Muslim community.
"Birmingham is a tolerant city and will not allow these extreme acts that attempt to divide us."