Police investigate racist graffiti at mosque

Worshippers say they have been left "living in fear" after racist graffiti was sprayed on the the walls of a Birmingham mosque and community centre.

The word "terrorists" was sprayed on the Jami Community and Education Centre on Kettle Road in Kingstanding on Wednesday, while windows were smashed two weeks ago, said volunteer Khalid Hussein.

An emergency community meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss the incidents with council officials and police.

West Midlands Police said it was treating the graffiti as racially/religiously aggravated criminal damage, and appealed for information.

"We understand the concern that this has caused, and dedicated neighbourhood officers are in contact with worshippers and leaders at the mosque," it said in a statement.

"Patrols in the area have also been stepped up as we work to reassure the local community."

Hussein said the site wanted local authorities to take the matter seriously, and make the community feel safe and heard.

"Our mosque has been under attack—they are not isolated incidents," Hussein said.

He described the incidents as "attempts to strike fear into the hearts of our worshippers and disrupt [the] peace of our neighbourhood".

But, he said, the vandals had failed to create "a rift" among the worshippers.

"Clearly, while these individuals have tried to tear us apart, they have only succeeded in stitching us closer together," he added.

MP Paulette Hamilton attended the meeting and said: "The community is living in fear. They feel they are not safe in the local area.

"They feel the building is no longer safe to come to."

MP Ayoub Khan echoed her concerns, adding residents were feeling anxious.

"Clearly an attack of a premises of any institution of one faith group is going to have an affect on all members of our community," he said.

West Midlands Police said it took all forms of hate crime seriously.

Supt Haroon Chughtai described any attempt to spread hatred in Birmingham as "deplorable".

"We simply don't tolerate any form of racist or hateful graffiti, and we are working at pace to find whoever was responsible," he said.

"I would urge anyone with information, or footage—including CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell video—to please get in touch with us."

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