Five Birmingham mosque attacks probed by terrorism officers
(BBC) – Five mosques in Birmingham have been targeted in a string of violent attacks – one involving a sledgehammer – overnight and into the morning.
Reports of a man smashing windows with the tool on Birchfield Road were received at 02:30 GMT, police said.
Officers were then alerted to similar attacks in Erdington, Aston and Perry Barr about 45 minutes later. Another on Albert Road was struck at 10:00 GMT.
The Home Secretary called the vandalism “deeply concerning and distressing”.
West Midlands Police said it was yet to establish a motive and officers from its Counter Terrorism Unit were investigating.
A spokesperson for Witton Islamic Centre on Witton Road, Aston, said CCTV captures a man smashing windows at about 01:30.
“The whole of the front windows, about six, were smashed,” he said.
“Because of the force he used it’s gone through the windows and into the mosque itself”.
Councillor Majid Mahmood tweeted a video of the clean-up taking place at the centre.
Councillor John Cotton, cabinet member for social inclusion, community safety and equalities with Birmingham City Council, said he was “appalled” by the violence and was working with police to find those responsible.
He tweeted: “These thugs do not speak for Birmingham and will not divide us.”
Cllr Majid Mahmood tweeted a video of smashed windows at the Witton Islamic Centre
Chief Constable of West Midlands Police Dave Thompson said: “At the moment we don’t know the motive for last night’s attacks.
“What I can say is that the force and the Counter Terrorism Unit are working side-by-side to find whoever is responsible.”
A statement from the Birmingham Council of Mosques said: “We were deeply horrified to hear a number of mosques were vandalised during the early hours of this morning.
“Birmingham’s mosques are a place of worship, serenity and a source of peace and tranquillity. We are appalled by such acts of hate/terror.”
The MP for Birmingham Ladywood, Shabana Mahmood, said the attacks were “truly terrible”.
Mr Thompson added: “Since the tragic events in Christchurch, New Zealand, officers and staff from West Midlands Police have been working closely with our faith partners across the region to offer reassurance and support at mosques, churches and places of prayer.”
