The suspected murder of an imam in Rochdale has prompted calls for calm from religious leaders and warnings that mosques in the area should consider additional security precautions.

Jalal Uddin, 56, from Bangladesh, was found in a children’s playground with a fatal head injury on Thursday night. Police have launched a murder inquiry and arrested a 31-year-old in connection with the death.



Paramedics and police attended the scene, but Uddin died in hospital. It is understood he had been to evening prayers at the Jalali Jame mosque before visiting a friend for dinner, and that he was taking a shortcut through the playground on his way home when he was attacked.

Jalal Uddin. Photograph: Manchester Evening News.

Uddin left the friend’s house on South Street at about 8.40pm. Twenty minutes after leaving the house he was found covered in blood with serious head injuries at the playground at the end of South Street in the Wardleworth area of the town. A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

The motive behind the attack is unclear. Muslim leaders have responded by pleading with the community to remain calm until detectives have given a firm motive for the attack.

The chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, Mohammed Shafiq, said he was shocked by the news but urged the community of Rochdale to stay united. “We pay tribute to him and his unique contribution to our community in Rochdale,” Shafiq said.

“We offer our sincere condolences and prayers to his family, friends and the wider community. We would urge all local mosques in Rochdale to consider emergency security precautions and facilities to help local people return home safely from the mosque. Furthermore mosques should also consider buddying various people together to ensure vulnerable people are supported.”

Meanwhile, Dobir Miah, chief officer for the Rochdale Council of Mosques, said there was no immediate threat to local residents. “We would like to urge people to please remain calm and be reassured that everything possible is being done to find out what has happened,” he said.

“Nothing has been said that suggests there is an immediate threat to people doing their day-to-day activities.”

A postmortem was due to take place on Friday. Rebekah Sutcliffe, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said detectives were keeping an open mind about the investigation.

She said: “A man is in custody and has been arrested but at the moment we are keeping a completely open mind as to what the motive for this attack is. I think it would be unhelpful at this stage to speculate about what has happened.

“We don’t know what the motive for this assault was and we are really keen to understand that, and we do need people to come forward and talk to us.”

A statement on the the Jalali Jame mosque website said: “It is with deep sadness we inform you that our dear Qari Jalal Uddin Saab passed away last night. The cause of his death is yet to be confirmed. We recommend that you do not speculate but rather wait for the facts to be established by the police.”

Uddin, who has a wife and children in Bangladesh, had been in the UK for almost 15 years.

On Friday afternoon a special service was held at the mosque in Trafalgar Street in tribute to Uddin who was “known and loved throughout the community”. He was described as someone who was peaceful, caring, and “never hurt a fly”.

Councillor Ali Ahmed said after the service: “We are all shocked and saddened by this news. We live in a peaceful community and nothing like this has ever happened before. It is a very sad day for all of us.”

Mohammed Bashir, a distant relative of Uddin, said: “He never hurt a fly. He was a real man of God who was dedicated to his job and to the community. There are many people here today who are mourning his loss. We all miss him. We are all devastated.”

Another friend, Hussain Dalim, said: “Nobody can believe it. Everyone is still coming to terms with the news. He was a deeply religious man who cared for everyone around him, it is so sad that he has been taken from us.”



Simon Danczuk, the MP for Rochdale, said he was saddened to hear about the death. He described the area where Uddin was allegedly attacked, Wardleworth, as a “very tight-knit” community and said local residents were shocked.

“Mr Uddin was a well-regarded, peaceful man, a very, very gentle man. He was well thought of in his local mosque and among the Bangladeshi community. I’ve spoken to people today and they’re all in shock and really upset. I send my condolences to his family.”