Surrey Police continues to appeal for information following an attempted arson attack on the Molesey Islamic Cultural Centre on October 18.
Credit: Surrey Police
In a statement, the force disclosed that at around 1:45 am the suspect approached a wooden door with what they believe was an instant-lighting BBQ bag. Thankfully, however, the fire did not take hold nor caused significant damage.
A spokesperson for the Islamic centre told SurreyLive about their anguish over the attack and thanked the police for their quick response.
Members of the public can contact Surrey Police either online or by calling 101, quoting the crime reference number PR/45230117900. Tell MAMA can pass information to the force anonymously or with your consent.
Since the deadly Hamas terror attacks on October 7, the targeting of mosques in the UK has varied: ranging from vandalism, threats and the dumping of a pig’s head at a proposed site in Lancashire.
On October 27, Ealing Council condemned the targeting of Acton Central Mosque with red paint, posting on Twitter/X: “We are aware of an incident at Acton Central Mosque overnight. Paint has been cleaned off by council contractors. Hate crime has no place in Ealing, and we will always oppose it. Our leader & senior officers are in touch with the police & will continue to work with them,” as the Local MP Rupa Huq posted that the mosque was targeted twice in just two weeks.
In Oxford, Thames Valley Police launched a CCTV appeal after a cyclist threw an empty petrol can into the car park of the Oxford Mosque and Islamic Cultural Society on October 28, which the force stated, “had writing on it related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine.” In a statement, the mosque stated that the writing on the can read “IDF Rule” and “IDF”.
🚨 CCTV appeal following the targeting of the Oxford Mosque and Islamic Cultural Society with a petrol can on October 28.
If you recognise the man pictured, call 101 quoting 43230484992. Tell MAMA can do this for you or anonymously. pic.twitter.com/l7uzWBOuss
— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) November 6, 2023
Anyone who recognises the man pictured on the bike can call 101 quoting 43230484992. Tell MAMA can do this for you or anonymously.
We urge mosques and Islamic centres to download our mosque safety advice resources and to consider our updated mosque security advice service.
Before the October 7 terror attacks, we reported on the devastating burglary and arson attack on the Al-Falah Institute.
Earlier this year, we published the findings of a joint survey between ITV News and Tell MAMA which revealed that of the 117 mosques surveyed, almost 90 per cent experienced anti-Muslim hate crimes in the previous 12 months, with some mosques describing far-right intimidation and agitations. In one example, someone set fire to a bin outside the mosque. ITV News highlighted examples of “threatening letters, acts of violence, and in one case, having faeces smeared across their walls.”