Worshipper hurt in alleged race attack near mosque

A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following an alleged assault on a worshipper outside a mosque in Leyton, east London.

Officers attended the scene following reports of a racially aggravated assault at the mosque on Leyton High Road, Waltham Forest, at about 22:00 BST on Tuesday 7 July.

Noor Ul Islam mosque said CCTV showed the victim, in his 50's, apparently being randomly targeted by the suspect as he was leaving after evening prayers.

Police said the 42-year-old suspect was arrested and remains in hospital after suffering a head injury during the alleged assault.

Aslam Hansa, operations manager at the mosque, said the CCTV footage leading up to the attack seemed to show the suspect shouting racist and Islamophobic obscenities outside the building.

A video taken by a witness after the incident has been shown to the BBC and appears to show the victim with a head injury and blood staining his clothing.

A Met spokesperson said police at the scene found a man in his 50s had been assaulted and subjected to racist abuse.

It added that the victim's injuries were assessed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing. The mosque said the victim had been discharged from hospital.

Hansa told the BBC the CCTV showed the alleged attacker leaving the scene and then coming back. He described the man as carrying a white bag "with something heavy in it".

He said the regular congregation at the mosque had been left "shaken up" by the incident.

"The congregation is very worried," he said. "Is this a lone wolf or a team targeting Muslims?"

Hansa added: "The mosque has been here 35 years, we get on with the local community, we get on with everyone, there are no issues."

He also said the mosque runs a pre-school for children and that parents are "very worried".

Hansa described how the local community had been "really supportive" today and said how helpful the support had been.

He said he had also spoken to the worshipper who was attacked on the phone today and said: "There [were] no major injuries thankfully, he's shaken, he's upset, he seemed okay though."

The MP for Leyton and Wanstead, Calvin Bailey, said in a statement his understanding was there was "no further threat currently perceived to our community" following the arrest of the suspect.

He described the attack as "deeply distressing", and said it has caused "fear and upset" locally.

"We must be clear: there is no place for hatred in Leyton and Wanstead. An attack on someone because of their faith is an attack on all of us," he said.

He added: "Leyton is strongest when we stand together. Acts of hatred will never define our community; the solidarity and compassion shown by our residents always will."

The Met Police said it had increased patrols in the area, adding: "We take reports of racially-motivated hate crime extremely seriously and recognise the profound impact such incidents can have on victims.

"Officers are committed to bringing those who commit such offences to justice.

"We know the community will be concerned about this incident and we have stepped up reassurance patrols in the local area.

"We would urge anyone with concerns to speak to officers."

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