Counter-terrorism police in the West Midlands are investigating attacks on five mosques in Birmingham overnight.

Police responded to reports of a man smashing windows with a sledgehammer at the Al-Habib mosque in Birchfield Road at 2.32am, but when they arrived at the scene they discovered the attack had taken place some time earlier.

Image: The Witton Islamic Centre was one of the five venues attacked

Around 42 minutes later, police were alerted to a similar attack at a mosque in Slade Road, Erdington.

Patrols were stepped up across the city and officers discovered further damage at Witton Islamic Centre in Aston, and at Masjid Faizul Islam on Broadway in Perry Barr.

Image: A place of worship in Slade Road, Erdington, was also attacked

CCTV footage obtained by Sky News shows a person dressed in dark clothing slinging a sledgehammer through several windows at the Witton Islamic Centre.


Officers were later alerted to a fifth attack after pictures emerged on social media showing smashed windows at the Mosque and Muslim Community Centre in Albert Road, Aston.

The motive behind the attacks remains unknown but West Midlands Police said it is believed they are linked.

Islamic centres attacked in Birmingham

The force said forensic teams are at the scenes collecting evidence and officers are examining CCTV in the areas.

West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit is also involved in the investigation.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: "Deeply concerning & distressing to see number of mosques have been vandalised in Birmingham overnight.

"@WMPolice are investigating motive but let me be clear - hateful behaviour has absolutely no place in our society & will never be accepted."

Adil Parkar, from the Birmingham Council of Mosques, told Sky News he was "appalled" by the attacks, but not "surprised" they had taken place.

"We expected something like this to happen. We spoke to the police who have been very upfront and forthcoming.

"Every time there is an incident around the world we do get idiots coming around and doing these things.

"Our congregation is worried. Parents whose kids come to our mosques every evening are taken aback by what's going on.

"There is fear, anger and scepticism about what the government is doing about the security of our mosques right now."

He appealed to the Muslim community to remain "calm", adding: "We all need to be united on this front to make sure this does not go beyond what is vandalism at this minute."

Image: Adil Parkar, from the Birmingham Council of Mosques (c) has appealed for 'calm'

Sky's Becky Johnson, at the Erdington mosque, said one man had told her he is now afraid to bring his five-year-old son to prayers.

Khalid Mahmood, president of the mosque, told Sky News people were feeling "pretty frustrated" - particularly because of the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, last week during which 50 worshippers were killed.

He said the Birmingham attacks would not stop the community from "carrying on with our normal lives".

"We have a pretty good relationship with other communities here locally so we can look out for each other - that is how we should be living anyway, but at times like this we need each other," he added.

Image: The Mosque and Muslim Community Centre in Albert Road, Aston, also had its windows smashed in

Councillor Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council leader, said there is no room in the city for "hate and Islamophobia".

"This is a city built on tolerance and I'm proud of the fact that everyone is accepted in Birmingham regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality," he said.

"As we saw with last week's tragic events in Christchurch, Islamophobia is a poison that cannot go unchallenged.

"As a city it is important that we call out discrimination and intolerance in any form and we will continue to do so."

Image: The Masjid Faizul Islam in Perry Barr

The city council's community safety boss, Councillor John Cotton, tweeted: "Appalled to see that Birmingham mosques have been the target of vandalism and violence overnight."

He added: "These thugs do not speak for Birmingham & will not divide us."

Image: The Birmingham Al-Habib mosque in Birchfield Road was damaged too

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: "Since the tragic events in Christchurch, New Zealand, officers and staff from West Midlands Police have been working closely with our faith partners across the region to offer reassurance and support at mosques, churches and places of prayer.

"At the moment we don't know the motive for last night's attacks.

"What I can say is that the force and the Counter-Terrorism Unit are working side-by-side to find whoever is responsible.

"At difficult times like this, it is incredibly important that everyone unites against those who seek to create discord, uncertainty and fear in our communities."

Anyone with information can contact police via Live Chat between 8am and midnight, or call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.