Police have confirmed they are investigating an incident where a pig's head was thrown onto a roof at a mosque and community centre in Stockport as a 'hate crime'.
Worshippers at the Heatons Muslims Community Trust (HMCT) were left 'terrified' after they made the grim discovery on Friday night (December 9). They were leaving the building on Battersea Road in Heaton Mersey at around 9.15pm when they spotted the animal's head on the roof.
It had been placed on a low, flat part of the building's roof meaning it was easily visible. Muhammad Tayyab Mohiuddin, one of the HMCT's trustees, said users of the centre, some of whom are children and some of whom are elderly, were left 'terrified' and felt like they had been 'targeted'.
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This morning (December 12), Greater Manchester Police confirmed they had received a report of a hate crime on Friday night. They said an investigation into the incident is now underway.
A GMP spokesperson said: "At around 9:15pm on Friday 9 December 2022, GMP received a report of a hate crime outside a place of worship on Battersea Road, Stockport. An investigation is underway.
"Anyone with information should contact Greater Manchester Police quoting 3246 09/12/22. Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. GMP can be contacted via gmp.police.uk or 101."
Meanwhile many residents in Greater Manchester have offered their support for those affected by the incident. Dozens commented on the Manchester Evening News' Facebook post about it yesterday and said they were 'disgusted' by what had happened.
Amanda Ochampaugh wrote: "That's disgusting & so disrespectful." Anne Johnson said: "Some people are vile doing this to the community."
Kate Ingram said: "For goodness sake what's the matter with people who do such things!" Sashey Medley wrote: "Just why would you do that? It's disrespectful no matter the religion."
Yesterday, Muhammad Tayyab Mohiuddin said: "In the evening we have a bit of a gathering at the community centre and some people came out and someone said 'there's a pigs head on the roof.'
"It's a short roof so it was easy to see. I think they have picked that point in order to terrify people. Everyone knows someone has placed it there and what their intentions were.
"In our religion, we are not allowed to eat pig's meat or handle it in any way so someone has done it specifically for that reason. We have a lot of elderly people and a lot of children who use the centre and obviously they are a bit terrified that someone is targeting us and fear in the future someone could go further or take a wrong step.
"We have spoken to the police and told them. We've been told it is logged as a hate crime." Mr Mohiuddin said the centre, which has been serving the Islamic residents of the Heatons for over a decade, has never had any issues other than two burglaries in the past year where a TV and donation box were stolen.
He said CCTV footage showed a car pulling up and two people, getting out one of whom was carrying what appeared to be a bin bag. He said the car's registration plate was captured on the dashcam in one user's car meaning they were hopeful police would be able to quickly trace the culprits.
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