Information on Loughborough

Two incidents at Loughborough Mosque

Posted on 18/08/2007
P. Klein

leicestershire police carPolice in Loughborough are appealing for witnesses after two incidents at the King Street Mosque.

The first incident happened at around 1pm on Sunday August 12 when one of a small group of men and women in their twenties shouted abuse in the direction of the Mosque. While there were no overtly racist comments made, the people who heard the abuse took them to be racially motivated.

Later that same day, between 3pm and 6.30pm a window was also smashed at the Mosque. While officers cannot say for sure these incidents are linked they are exploring the possibility that they may be.

PC Sanjeet Bilan from Loughborough local policing unit said: "It may be that these two incidents are completely unrelated, however, both are being treated as crimes and therefore we would appeal to anyone who witnessed either incident to please get in touch.

"Leicestershire Constabulary has a firm stance on racially motivated crime. It will not be tolerated. Everyone has the right to practice their religion or go about their daily business without fear of abuse.

"Were appealing to anyone who witnessed either incident to please get in touch. Did you see the group of people outside the Mosque? Do you know who they were? One of them is said to have been wearing a red football top.

"Do you have any information as to how the window got smashed? If so please get in touch."

Officers have made house to house enquiries and are exploring the possibility of CCTV evidence. They would like to stress that incidents of this nature are still very rare but would encourage anyone who feels they are a victim of racially motivated crime to report it to police.