Merseyside Police today (January 21) named a 45-year-old man charged in connection with an assault and a racially aggravated public order offence following the targeting of worshippers when leaving the Al-Rahma Mosque, on Mulgrave Street, in Toxteth last month.

The anti-Muslim and Islamophobic attack occurred on the afternoon of December 11.

In a statement, officers attended the scene following reports of an assault with a bike lock against a 41-year-old man.

The statement added that the victim had challenged the perpetrator who had been shouting racist abuse and making gun gestures at worshippers as they left the mosque.

Following the completion of their investigation yesterday (January 20), Paul Anderson, 45, of Duke Street in Liverpool City Centre, was arrested, taken into custody, and later charged with assault (Section 47) and a racially aggravated public order offence (Section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986).

Paul Anderson is due to appear in court today after being remanded in custody.