Following the attacks on four mosques in Birmingham overnight the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner says the behaviour will not be ‘tolerated’.
Police were called at 2.32am today (21 March) to reports of a man smashing windows with a sledgehammer at the mosque on Birchfield Road.
Officers arrived within minutes, but soon established that the attack had happened some time earlier.
At 3.14am, police were alerted to a similar attack at the mosque on Slade Road, Erdington.
Police began patrols in areas with mosques and came across further damage at places of worship on Witton Road, Aston, and at Broadway, Perry Barr.
Forensic officers are working to identify evidence, and CCTV is being examined.
Neighbourhood officers are working closely with mosques around the West Midlands today.
The motive behind the attacks, which are being treated as linked, is yet to be established but West Midlands Police and the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit are investigating.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: “These are shocking incidents which appear to have been designed to cause distress and alarm.
“Attacks of this nature have no place in our community and will not be tolerated. I want to reassure people that West Midlands Police is doing all it can to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“People will be horrified by these attacks on the Muslim community.
“Birmingham is a tolerant city and will not allow these extreme acts that attempt to divide us.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact police via Live Chat between 8am and midnight, via 101 any time, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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