Two Birmingham mosques attacked with heavy-duty catapult

West Midlands Police are appealing for information after two mosques in Birmingham were attacked with ball bearings fired from a heavy-duty catapult.

The Masjid Qamarul Islam, on Fosbrooke Road, came under attack at 22:00 GMT yesterday evening (August 15), and 20 minutes later, the Al-Hijrah mosque also came under attack during Isha prayers (evening prayers).

Both mosques are situated half-a-mile away from one another.

Witnesses described the ‘marble-shaped’ size of the ball bearings.

Firearms officers from West Midlands Police attended both mosques as a precaution.

West Midlands Police are working to establish the motive of the attack, and Tell MAMA is continuing to liaise with the force, as our staff support the affected mosques.

Imam Usman Hussain, from Masjid Qamarul Islam, told the BBC: “Worshippers thought they were under attack by someone with a gun.”

Wajid Hussain, who works for the Al-Hijra Trust and Masjid, told the Birmingham Mail: “The damage was on the side – to the hostel part of the building, but it is all one charity. We are very concerned about the attack.”

The attacks come days after 29-year-old Salih Khater, from Birmingham, was arrested on suspicion of terror offences after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament.

A trustee of Birmingham Central Mosque, Nassar Mahmood, told the press that Muslims are facing ‘unprecedented levels of Islamophobia’.

In 2017, Tell MAMA verified 54 incidents against Islamic institutions.

Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.