4 Mosques Attacked with Sledgehammers in Birmingham

An initial attack was reported at a mosque on Birchfield Road 2:32 am local time and, as officers were responding, additional reports were received of a man smashing windows at another mosque on Slade Road at approximately 3:14 am local time, RT reported.

Police were dispatched to patrol the streets citywide in an effort to prevent further destruction, and patrolling officers discovered damage at other places of worship in the Witton Road, Aston Broadway areas of the city.

Counter-terrorism detectives from Scotland Yard have been dispatched to investigate the incidents, which are believed to be linked.

“At the moment we don’t know the motive for last night’s attacks,” West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson said in a statement, adding, “What I can say is that the force and the Counter-Terrorism Unit are working side-by-side to find whoever is responsible.”

Thompson stated that since the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 50 Muslims were killed and a further 50 people injured, West Midlands police have been working closely with local community leaders to reassure local Muslims in the area.

Forensic teams are already examining each scene and police are gathering CCTV footage of the incidents in an attempt to track down the perpetrators.

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