
Police have arrested six teenagers after vandals tore up Korans, smashed windows and sprayed swastikas and other hate-filled graffiti on the walls on an Islamic school.

The incident happened at the Bahr Academy on Benwell Lane, Newcastle - formerly the set of the children's TV show Byker Grove - at 9pm on Monday.

There was significant damage in the attack, which comes just days after Muslim worshippers were massacred at a mosque in New Zealand, and police have classed it as a hate crime.

Northumbria Police said an 18-year-old woman, two 16-year-old boys, two 14-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl have been arrested and remained in police custody.

Sickening graffiti was daubed on the walls when the Bahr Academy, in Newcastle's West End, was broken into on Monday night

It is the second time the building, which was once the set of the Byker Grove TV series, has been targeted in two months. Pictured is a swastika on one of the walls

Police were called to the school, on Benwell Lane, at around 9pm by a neighbour who noticed suspicious activity in its grounds

Neighbourhood Inspector Alan Davison said: 'This is a very distressing incident for members of the Bahr Academy, particularly as it is the second break-in this year.

'Although there is not the same racist graffiti as we saw in the first incident, we are treating this as a hate crime.

'We are aware of the impact incidents of this nature can have on the community and I want to be clear that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.'

Officers will work with the academy to put measures in place to protect the centre and police will carry out high-visibility patrols.

The school's principal, Muhammad Abdulmuheet, said: 'We had just got tidied up after the last time. We feel angry, afraid and scared now. Anything could happen.'

Police were called to the school, on Benwell Lane, at around 9pm by a neighbour who noticed suspicious activity in its grounds.

Mr Abdulmuheet arrived at the building at the same time as officers and says he saw the intruders and heard them shout 'Muslims' and 'terrorists'.

He then discovered that windows had been broken in the chapel and copies of the Quran had been ripped up and were scattered across the floor.

Flammable liquid had also been poured on the floor.

Mr Abdulmuheet said: 'I had a call from the neighbours saying the windows had been broken into and there were people inside the building.

'I called the police and we attended as well, we went into the building and they were still there in the chapel.

'The windows were broken and there were torn pieces of the Quran all around. There was paraffin and spirits on the floor.

'I think they were definitely going to set the building on fire, but luckily they were stopped before they did.

'I saw them in the chapel and heard them talking about 'Muslims' and 'terrorists'.'

Attendees of the Bahr Academy discovered that windows had been broken in the chapel and copies of the Quran had been ripped up and were scattered across the floor

The school's principal, Muhammad Abdulmuheet, said after the second attack on his school: 'We had just got tidied up after the last time. We feel angry, afraid and scared now. Anything could happen'

Northumbria Police's Neighbourhood Inspector for the area, Alan Davison, said: 'At about 9pm on Monday we were called with a report that intruders had broken in to the Bahr Academy building on Benwell Lane.' Pictured are damaged parts of the staircase

The attack comes less than two weeks after 50 people were killed and dozens more injured when a gunman went on the rampage at two mosques in Christchurch

Ripped up Korans and a sign saying 'unity does not mean sameness it means openness' lying of the floor after the vile attack

Mr Abdulmuheet believes those responsible were teenagers.

He added: 'I just think it's pathetic, but it is disappointing to hear young people saying things like that. But what can you do?'

Northumbria Police's Neighbourhood Inspector for the area, Alan Davison, said: 'At about 9pm on Monday we were called with a report that intruders had broken in to the Bahr Academy building on Benwell Lane.

'Our officers attended and found significant damage had been caused to the building. However, we believe we have already identified those involved and enquiries into the incident will continue today.

'We are aware of the impact incidents of this nature can have on the community and I want to be clear that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.

'Our officers will be visiting the Bahr Academy again today and working with them to put further measures in place to try and prevent anything like this happening again.

'High visibility patrols will be taking place around the academy following this incident and anyone with any concerns is encouraged to speak to those officers.'

The attack comes less than two weeks after 50 people were killed and dozens more injured when a gunman went on the rampage at two mosques in Christchurch.

Northumbria Police said high visibility patrols will be taking place around the academy following this incident

The Bahr Academy was still recovering from a vandalism attack in January, during which the words 'Moslem terrorists' and a swastika was scrawled on the wall while debris was scattered across the floor. Pictured is graffiti from the latest attack

Broken windows at the front of the school. Coun Habib Rahman, who represents the Elswick ward on Newcastle City Council, believes the attack was racially motivated

The building which now houses the school featured in the popular TV series Byker Grove

The Bahr Academy was still recovering from a vandalism attack in January, during which the words 'Moslem terrorists' and a swastika was scrawled on the wall while debris was scattered across the floor.

Coun Habib Rahman, who represents the Elswick ward on Newcastle City Council, believes the attack was racially motivated.

'The severity of the damage compared to last time, which just seems like yesterday is much more severe,' he said.

'I think the nature of the incident and the fact that this is the second time clearly does suggest that this building is being targeted.

'It's a religious school, there's clear elements of racial motivation here.'

And the Coun Rahman says the local Muslim community is now living in fear.

He added: 'Everyone has been feeling vulnerable since the New Zealand attack. The feeling here is one of shock, there is fear among all generations young and old.

'Incidents like this don't help calm the situation or alleviate the fear for the Muslim community. '