Manchester Muslim Community in Shock After Mosque Ransacked
Shock, anger and fear have swept through the Muslim community in Manchester after intruders broke into a mosque, looting and vandalizing the building. Desecrated copies of the Quran were left behind alongside damage estimated to exceed £30,000. Local residents say the attack has caused “significant distress” as police hunt for the thieves.
Elaf Masjid in Cheadle Heath was the victim of an overnight break-in, shortly after the mosque was used to host celebrations and prayers for Eid al-Fitr, which fell on Friday March 20.
Congregants of the mosque returned for early morning Fajr prayers on Saturday, to find the devastating state of the mosque and significant damage inside.
The damage inflicted on the mosque is believed to be worth over £30,000, as the culprit was caught approaching the mosque on CCTV before damaging the system and tripped the power circuit.
Damage was inflicted to the windows, the front door and lockbox, and then they took an estimated £5,000 in cash donations, which was collected to maintain the running of the mosque and support the needy within the community.
The suspect also destroyed a newly installed sound system, which had been put in place just before Ramadan, worth over £6,000.
A bookshelf with Qur’ans was also damaged, with the holy books being thrown onto the floor.
Children’s classrooms also suffered damage, where the mosque attendees found children’s toys scattered on the floor, and cupboards broken into.
To make matters worse, the suspect had turned up the boiler’s temperature from 21 degrees to 88 degrees before leaving.
Locals discover damage
Ben Pickering, 38, was the first to see the damage inflicted on the mosque when he turned up at 5:23am for Fajr prayers: “This incident has caused significant distress within the local community,” he said.
“It occurred the morning after Eid, one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar, when the mosque had just been attended by large numbers of families and children.”
According to the mosque membership, this is the fifth time the mosque has been targeted since it opened last year, which has left many in the local community feeling fearful and vulnerable amid rising Islamophobia in Britain.
Dr Junayed Ahmed, 40, one of the regular worshippers at Elaf Masjid, said: “We feel like we are being targeted because we are Muslim, but whether the police have enough evidence to go on to determine whether it’s hate or not, I don’t know.”
According to Manchester Evening News, the incident is not currently being treated as a hate crime by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Forensic investigators were seen at the mosque on Saturday as an investigation was being conducted.
A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers in Stockport have stepped up patrols and are reviewing CCTV after a burglary on Stockport Road in Cheadle Heath, Stockport. The break-in was reported to us this morning after being discovered at around 6am today (March 21).
“A number of data-x-items are believed to have been stolen, including cash and electrical data-x-items – anyone with information can contact us quoting log 594-21/3/26. There is a scene at the location and our officers will remain there today.”
Fundraiser for the mosque
A fundraiser was set up by Ben Pickering on behalf of the mosque, with a target of £7,500, of which over £4,600 has been raised at the time of this article.
Pickering described what he saw as he entered the mosque: “The front door had been opened. The lock box was damaged and missing. As I stepped inside, it became clear that the mosque had been broken into and vandalized.
In the main prayer hall, Qur’ans had been thrown onto the floor. The sound system had been damaged and taken. The prayer time device had been broken. Lock boxes and storage areas had been forced open, with cash and data-x-items removed.
Another upsetting part was what had been done to the areas used by children.
The classrooms had been ransacked. Cupboards broken into. A safe forced open and left on the floor. data-x-Items including electrical equipment had been taken. Children’s toys were scattered across the floor, left amongst the damage.
This is not just a building. This is where children learn, where families gather, and where our community comes together especially on days like Eid.
Just hours before, the mosque had been full of people. Families. Children. Smiles. Celebration.
And then, the very next morning, we walked into this.”
All the funds raised through the campaign will be used by the mosque to repair the damage from the break-in and replace all stolen or damaged items, including improving security systems to prevent further break-ins.
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
