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Muslims in front of the Central Mosque of Birmingham, England. Photo/birminghammail
LONDON – A 73-year-old Muslim man in England is hospitalized after being attacked on his way home from the mosque.
According to a Metro newspaper report, two 16-year-old children were arrested and detained after the attack, which was caught on CCTV in the city of Birmingham.
The video shows the man falling and hitting his head as a result of the attack. Police arrived on the scene as the man was rushed to hospital suffering from a broken hand and facial injuries.
West Midlands Police Superintendent Neil Kirkpatrick explained, “We are all shocked by this attack and we have a team working around the clock to identify any suspects. We have made two arrests and it remains a very active investigation.”
“We understand the concern raised in society, especially those who are observing the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.
“We are grateful for the support we are receiving, and we are in contact with religious leaders and are working with street administrators from local mosques to reassure the community,” he said.
The attack followed attacks in Birmingham and London, when two congregational mosques were torched in separate incidents. A man has been arrested in connection with the two attacks.
The 73-year-old victim’s family said, “We will ask the public to calm down and assist the police in their investigation. We will also ask that people respect our privacy while we help our father recover.”
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