Gregg Zoroya

USA TODAY

Threats of migrant abuse and hate crimes surfaced in the United Kingdom on Monday, just days after voters angry about a growing immigrant population approved a referendum for leaving the European Union.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan asked police Monday to be on heightened alert to deal with hate crimes directed against minorities or immigrants. The mayor vowed there would be "zero tolerance" for such acts.

"I'm calling on all Londoners to pull together and rally behind this great city. While I'm Mayor, addressing hate crimes will be a priority for the Met," Khan said in a statement.

The mayor also said it was important not to demonize the "1.5 million Londoners who voted for 'Brexit.'"

"While I and millions of others disagreed with their decision, they took it for a variety of reasons and this shouldn't be used to accuse them of being xenophobic or racist. We must respect their decision and work together now to get the best deal for London," Khan said.

The Polish Embassy in London also issued a statement Monday expressing shock and concern about reported incidents of "xenophobic abuse."

A Polish community center in west London was defiled with racist graffiti and there were reports of Polish nationals receiving racist notes telling them to leave the country, according to the Evening Standard.

Adam Andrzejko, a reporter at the Polish Nasze Strony, which covered the story in Huntington, said that it was a "very sad example" of the response to the Brexit result.



The Muslim Council of Britain, an organization that represents 500 mosques, schools and religious associations across the U.K., said it had compiled over 100 hate incidents since the Brexit vote Thursday.

'Brexit': What we know

Among those cases was a racist demonstration outside a mosque in Birmingham, and Muslims and others being taunted with slogans such as "go back home!"

The group has collected screenshots of reports of hate crimes and negative comments on social media to display on its website.

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned recent racist attacks, saying he would "not tolerate intolerance."

"Let's remember these people have come here and made a wonderful contribution to our country," Cameron said in a statement, according to the Scotland Herald. "We will not stand for hate crime or these kinds of attacks, they must be stamped out."

A discussion over hostility and reports of abuse have also taken to social media with people complaining about minorities being verbally abused or threatened.

Analysis: Next 'Brexit step? Take a deep breath and calm down

Former conservative parliamentary candidate Shazia Awan told BBC she received a response Friday on Twitter telling her to pack her bags and "go home."

"The slogan 'Vote Leave, Take Control' may as well have been 'Vote Leave empower racism' sadly this is exactly what has happened," Awam tweeted Monday.

Awam tweeted that she has friends and "people I respect" who voted for Brexit.

"I don't agree with them but that's life," Awam said. "Brexit has let racists hijack it."