UK Muslims fear NZ-style terror attack as four mosques attacked

LONDON: The Muslims in Britain fear a New Zealand-style terrorism attack on them after four mosques in the central English city of Birmingham have been attacked, with a man wielding a sledgehammer seen smashing windows at two places of worship. Thugs targeted the Witton Islamic Centre, the Masjid Faizul Islam, the Jam-e-Masjid, Muslim Community Centre Aston and Al-Habib Masjid – all within two miles of one another in Britain’s second largest city – overnight. Birmingham is home to nearly half a million Pakistanis. West Midlands Police said that the counter-terrorism officers are investigating attacks on the mosques in four different areas in the north of the city.

The force added the incidents "are being treated as linked". "At the moment we don’t know the motive for last night’s attacks," said Chief Constable Dave Thompson in a statement. "What I can say is that the force and the counter-terrorism unit are working side-by-side to find whoever is responsible."

Officers were first alerted in the early hours of Thursday to reports of a man smashing windows with a sledgehammer at one of the places of worship, the police said.

Following reports of a similar attack at another mosque in a nearby neighbourhood, officers launched targeted patrols and discovered "further damage" at two other sites. "Forensic officers are working to identify evidence, and CCTV is being examined," the West Midlands force added.

British national police chiefs last week announced officers were providing "reassurance patrols" around mosques in the immediate aftermath of Friday’s deadly gun rampage in New Zealand. Anti-racism groups have warned Islamophobia is on the rise in Britain and spurring a spike in far-right activity in the country. A report released last month by the Hope Not Hate charity cited a poll, which found more than a third of Britons see Islam as "generally a threat to the British way of life".

In another recent incident, Mohammed Mahmoud -- an Imam who won praise for shielding the perpetrator of a 2017 deadly terror attack against a north London mosque -- reported he was spat at and abused this week.

Mahmoud said he was targeted Monday while returning home from a solidarity event for the New Zealand massacre with other religious leaders, as well as Interior Minister Sajid Javid and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Naib Hussain, Secretary of Mosque and Muslim Community Centre in Aston, said, “With Friday prayers we’re fearful - we have up to 400 people at our mosque and up to 100 children. "If there was to be a copycat New Zealand style attack, it could be even worse. We need protection from our police officers.” Mr Hussain said police and local councillors were hoping to hold a meeting tonight to reassure local residents and worshippers.

“Our community is much worried and shocked and in the aftermath of the bloodshed in New Zealand, I’m telling them ‘beware, be careful," he said. Sabby Dhalu – co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) said, "Politicians and the media must take urgent action to stop Islamophobia. The Birmingham and Christchurch attacks don't happen in a vaccum. They take place in a context of hatred promoted by politicians and the media. There are also double standards regarding terrorism. When ISIS linked terror outrages occur there is rightly widespread condemnation, but when white supremacists carry out attacks on the Muslims, there's a reluctance to call it out as terrorism.”

Weyman Bennett – co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) said: "Islamophobia has become a rallying point for the racist and fascist right from Trump's Muslim ban to Boris Johnson's letter box comments about Muslim women. The fascist thug, Stephen Yaxley Lennon aka Tommy Robinson, also incites anti-Muslim hatred as do UKIP. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Muslim brothers and sisters at this moment.”