loading…
The Birmingham Central Mosque is a very famous place of worship in a city in England. Photo/birminghamheritageweek.co.uk
LONDON – Police in the city of Birmingham, England, made one arrest on suspicion of attempted murder after an elderly Muslim congregation was set on fire by an assailant.
The attack occurred when the elderly man was walking home from the mosque at 19:00 local time on Monday (20/3/2023). This incident prompted the involvement of counterterrorism police.
West Midlands Police said the suspect spoke briefly with the victim before spraying her with an unknown substance and setting her jacket on fire, which spread over her face.
The man was taken to hospital with what police described as serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Footage of the incident later circulated on social media.
Officers from the West Midlands police counterterrorism unit are assisting the investigation, and are investigating whether the attack is linked to a similar incident that occurred in Ealing, London, on 27 February. The victim in that case was attacked as he was leaving the Islamic Center in the London area.
“This is a very serious incident,” Chief Supt Richard North of Birmingham Police told Sky News on Tuesday.
“The victim was going about his business, walking back from the place of worship, when he was approached, sprayed with this substance and set on fire,” he said.
North also said in previous statements that counterterrorism experts were involved in the investigation, in part because of the “specialist ability” they have to help establish the circumstances of the crime.
Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak’s office called the attack a “case of concern” in a statement.
The British Muslim Association (AoBM) said it was “shocked” after the attack. “We also call for calm and urge all people to unite and stay alert and cooperate with the police,” added the institute’s deputy director Mohammad Abbasi.
(she)
