Hundreds of mosques are toughening their security and protective measures ahead of far-right rallies across the country, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has said.
There are fears that Islamic places of worship could be targeted during demonstration over the weekend after three young girls were murdered at a dance class during a mass stabbing in Southport stabbing.
At least 15 protests were being advertised online, some calling for participants to bring England flags and a number contain phrases such as “enough is enough”, “save our kids” or “stop the boats”.
Rallies are understood to be planned for areas such as Liverpool, Glasgow, Lancaster, Blackburn, Newcastle, Birmingham, Sunderland, Dover, Middlesborough, Leeds and Hull, the MCB said.
Extra security measures have also been introduced by mosques in the capital to prepare for potential riots.
Erkin Ramadan Guney, chairman at the UK’s first Turkish mosque, told the Standard he is “always concerned” about violence adding that protesters “are directing it at the wrong people”.
The Dalston mosque, also know as Shacklewell Lane Mosque, has been targeted regularly in its 47 year history.
He said: “We are being victims of the situation. We have set up security cameras. We are on standby.
“Since 1977 we have had petrol bombs, we have seen pig’s heads thrown at our doors. The British National Party. We have had it all.”
Mosque Security, a company that advises faith leaders on protection, told the Standard they have received messages from over 100 mosques seeking help and advice on security.
The company’s director Shaukat Warraich said: “Since the spike in the false anti-Muslim narrative being peddled following the Southport murders and the live streaming of the riots and attack on the Southport mosque and cultural centre many mosques have expressed their vulnerability and fear to us”.
“Our security tips have been downloaded from our websites in their hundreds and we plan to hold webinar’s to help to support and train mosque leaders against potential attacks in these worrying times.”
Ringleaders plotting more violent demonstrations were warned by the Government “we are watching you” as it sought to stop the “summer madness” from spreading.Over 100 people were arrested as police officers were attacked and assaulted when protests broke out near Downing Street.
Sir Keir Starmer announced a new “national” response to the violent disorder linking police forces across the country.
He also slammed thugs for a “Nazi salute at the Cenotaph” and firing flares at the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square during a demonstration.
The MCB has put together a plan in which mosques can hire paid security staff because of “deep-seated anxiety” and “palpable fear” among communities.
Its secretary-general Zara Mohammed said that mosques told of receiving threats on the phone about “targeted attacks” during a mosque security community briefing on Thursday
Expanding on the plan, Ms Mohammed said: “So it’s around protective measures: ensuring that the doors and windows are secure, carrying out a risk assessment, making sure CCTV cameras are working, and having some paid security staff on site.”
She stressed the need for Muslim communities to have a “direct relationship” with local police forces during the disorder.
Ms Mohammed said: “We go by what we’ve seen already and from what online posters are saying, but it sounds like far-right thugs and mobs are going to seek to intimidate congregations and mosques.
“In Southport they were pelting stones and glass bottles, shouting Islamophobic slurs and abuse.
“So it’s likely that we may again see groups of men and thugs coming together outside of the mosques to intimidate.”
