Hate crime targeting UK mosques more than doubled in past year, figures show

Hate crimes targeting mosques across the UK more than doubled between 2016 and 2017, new figures have revealed.

Hate crimes targeting mosques across the UK more than doubled between 2016 and 2017, new figures have revealed.

Police forces recorded 110 hate crimes directed at Muslim places of worship between March and July this year, up from 47 over the same six month period in 2016.

The Press Association reports that racist abuse, acts of vandalism at mosques and bomb threats feature heavily among the reported hate crimes.

Smashed windows at mosques, damage to cars parked outside and graffiti were all recorded along with physical assaults on Muslims on their way in or out of the buildings, two cases of arson and two complaints of bacon being left on mosque doors.

Britain’s Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott called the figures “deeply troubling”.

“Attacks on any religious group or minority are abominable,” she said, adding: “These anti-Muslim attacks will be condemned by all decent people.”

Fiyaz Mughal, Director of Faith Matters which works to increase community cohesion, told The Independent it was vital to acknowledge that terrorism was the driving factor behind the “worryingly consistent” level of mosque attacks.