Members of the British Muslim community in London have expressed deep concern following a series of Islamophobic attacks in which mosques, community centres and a school were vandalised with anti-Muslim graffiti, reports Anadolu Agency. The attacks took place between 6 and 25 January, shocking local residents and faith leaders.
Community leaders are calling for heightened security measures to protect worshippers and religious institutions from further attacks. The Metropolitan Police reportedly confirmed that they are investigating “several incidents of criminal damage” and treating them as “shocking” hate crimes.
The attacks have raised alarm within the Muslim community, prompting strong condemnations from organisations such as the Waltham Forest Council of Mosques (WFCOM), which emphasised that Muslims “will not be intimidated by the few ignorant individuals trying to cause division.”
Among the institutions targeted was Leyton Jamia Masjid, an East London mosque in the borough of Waltham Forest. On 23 January, unidentified individuals defaced the mosque’s windows with the phrase “Stop Islam”. The incident has heightened fears within the local Muslim community.
Shabir Hussain, chairman of the mosque said that the incident was reported to the Metropolitan Police, who informed the local council. The council responded swiftly, sending staff to clean the graffiti on the same day, he added.
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