Edinburgh central mosque targeted in suspected hate crime

Categories: Latest News
Monday September 19 2016
The Guardian reports a suspected hate crime in Edinburgh after the city’s central mosque suffered minor fire damage caused by an object thrown in the early hours of Sunday 18 September.
Edinburgh central mosque in the Potterrow area of the city was targeted in what police are calling a hate crime. The door and garden of the mosque are said to have been damaged in the attack.
Edinburgh police have launched a witness appeal to trace a man who was seen speaking to a group of women before the attack on Sunday at around 2.10am.
The man is described “as white, in his early 30s, with very short hair. He was wearing a short-sleeved black top with a white emblem on the front and dark trousers.”
Police are also keen to speak to drivers who drove past the mosque at the time of the incident and who may have seen someone behaving suspiciously.
Ch Insp Mark Rennie, local area commander for south-east Edinburgh, said: “This was a despicable and reckless act which we are treating as a hate crime. We have launched a thorough investigation to identify anyone involved and anyone who believes they have information that can assist with our inquiries is urged to get in touch.”
Edinburgh’s central mosque has been targeted in a number of hate crimes in recent years. In March 2014, a man was sentenced for posting a threat to blow up the mosque on Facebook in the weeks following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in May 2013. And in June 2014, two people were sentenced for wrapping strips of bacon around the door handles of the mosque and causing a breach of the peace in January 2013.