News / Society

UK Muslim leaders in Manchester report rise in Islamophobic incidents

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 5:43 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 25 May 2017 3:15 AM ]

Fawzi Haffar, a trustee at the Manchester Islamic Center in Didsbury, speaks to journalists on Wednesday, 24 May 2017. (Reuters photo)

Local Muslim leaders in Manchester have expressed concern about rising Islamophobic incidents and hate crimes against Muslims following the terror attack in the British city.

Senior members of the Muslim community in Britain’s third largest city say that they have received reports of criminal acts and abusive behavior since the attack on Manchester Arena earlier this week.

A spokesman for the Manchester Islamic Center, also known as the Didsbury Mosque, said Wednesday that the terrorist attack in the city on Monday has no place in any religion.

"The horrific atrocity that occurred in Manchester on Monday night has shocked us all,” said Fawzi Haffar.

"We encourage anyone, and I repeat we encourage anyone, who may have information about the individual involved to contact the police without any delay."

Haffar.also criticized some media reports for manufacturing unfounded anti-Muslim stories.

An arsonist targeted a mosque in the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester on Tuesday, sparking fears of a rise in hate crimes.

CCTV footage shows a man walking to the front door and setting the Jamia Qasmia Zahidia Islamic Center on fire.

This is while Muslim communities in Britain have condemned the Manchester terror attack and raised funds to distribute among the victims.

At least 22 people lost their lives when 22-year-old Salman Abedi allegedly detonated his explosives at a concert hall in Manchester on Monday.

British medical sources have raised the number of injuries to 119. Twenty of those with traumatic injuries are still in critical condition.

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British Home Secretary Amber Rudd said Wednesday the man who allegedly carried out the deadly attack was known to intelligence services and he did not act alone.

In an interview with BBC Radio, Rudd said more information is being gathered about Abedi.

She said 3,800 soldiers will be deployed across Britain to step up security amid fears of a wider plot.

British police have arrested three more suspects in connection to the deadly terror attack. The latest arrests bring to four the number of people taken into custody over the bombing since Tuesday.

Rudd also told the BBC that the US had leaked details of the bombing’s investigation, slamming the move as “irritating.”

The initial death tolls, the fact the attack appeared to be a suicide bombing, and the name of the attacker, were all released through US news organizations, evidently leaked by US intelligence sources.

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