Multiple Birmingham mosques attacked with sledgehammers overnight

Police are working hard to establish a motive

Four Birmingham mosques were attacked with sledgehammers in the early hours of Thursday morning, police have confirmed, with damage at a further place of worship considered likely to have been part of the same incident.

The exact motive of the attack is still being established after local councillor Majid Mahmood posted a video on Twitter of broken glass being cleared up.

This is Albert Road mosque (Jamia Masjid Ghousia) that was attacked overnight in the Aston part of Birmingham.

I am here with the trustees and @WMPolice .

I understand from locals 5 mosques were attacked overnight with sledgehammers.

A disgusting attack on places of worship!! pic.twitter.com/F1aoMiEHj8

— Cllr Majid Mahmood (@CllrMajid) March 21, 2019

“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,” West Midlands Police confirmed in a statement.

“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.”

This is the clean up after the attack on Witton Road Islamic Centre in Brum this morning

I have reports of a no of Islamic Centres & a Muslim girls school attacked overnight!

The systematic #Islamophobia by the MSM & @Conservatives are responsible for these disgusting attacks pic.twitter.com/ma2yVi5754

— Cllr Majid Mahmood (@CllrMajid) March 21, 2019

Mahmood, a Labour councillor for Birmingham, tweeted that “Muslims were afraid after the terrorist attacks in Christchurch” and authorities have not ruled out a link between the events.

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “Since the tragic events in Christchurch, New Zealand, officers and staff from West Midlands Police have been working closely with our faith partners across the region to offer reassurance and support at mosques, churches and places of prayer.

“At the moment we don’t know the motive for last night’s attacks.  What I can say is that the force and the Counter Terrorism Unit are working side-by-side to find whoever is responsible.”