Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Police are increasing patrols at two mosques in Cambridge after strips of bacon were today (June 8) left on the car windscreens to insult fasting Muslims.

Four vehicles were targeted in the hate crime at about 12.30am at the Omar Faruque Mosque in Kirkwood Road, King’s Hedges as Muslims celebrate Ramadan.

Teenager charged after bacon left on cars outside Cambridge mosque

Officers will also patrol around the mosque in Mawson Road, off Mill Road, following the incident.

A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged in the case on Friday. Police charged him with criminal damage and religiously aggravated criminal damage.

The attack on worshippers came after the terrorist incidents in London and Manchester, which have triggered an increase in hate crimes across the country.

In London there has been a five-fold increase in hate crimes following the London Bridge Terror attack, according to the city's Mayor Sadiq Khan.

A Cambridgeshire police spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this incident and an investigation is underway. We will be carrying out extra patrols in the area of both Cambridge mosques.

"We were called to a prejudice incident in Kirkwood Road, Cambridge, at around 12.30am this morning.”

TellMAMA, which monitors anti-Muslim attacks, said: “We have received information that worshippers at the Omar Faruque mosque in Kirkwood Road, Cambridge, came out from prayers to find strips of ham on the windscreens of four vehicles.

“Worshippers who had fasted were confronted with the anti-social and anti-Muslim actions.

“We are increasingly receiving reports of such activities where pork products are being used to abuse fellow citizens who happen to be Muslim.

“Clearly in the minds of perpetrators, they believe that pork products are an insult to Muslims.”

The monitoring group had a similar report from Cambridge in April when bacon was left on the handle of a Muslim man’s car who was returning from Parkside swimming pools with his 6-year-old niece when he discovered the pork product.

A police spokeswoman said: “We were called at around 3.50pm on Monday, April 24, to reports of a prejudice incident in Queen Anne Terrace Car Park, Cambridge.

“The offence took place between 1.20pm and 3.45pm on Sunday, April 23.

“An investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting crime number CF0235440417.”

The mosque has been asked for comment.