UK Prime MinisterKeir Starmervoiced “concern” Wednesday after Manchester police arrested a man suspected of carrying weapons into a mosque, months after a deadly synagogue attack shook the city.
“I am concerned to hear of the incident at Manchester Central Mosque last night,” Starmer said on social media, adding “this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan”.
“We will not and must not relent in the fight against anti-Muslim hatred,” the prime minister told MPs later.
Police in Manchester, northwest England, said they responded to reports Tuesday night of two men entering Manchester Central Mosque carrying “offensive weapons while people were worshipping during the holy month”.
Officers arrested one man in his 40s on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of drugs.
“We quickly responded to the scene where we searched the suspect, arrested him and seized weapons, including an axe, a knife and class B drugs,” Manchester police assistant chief constable John Webster said.
Police said they were trying to identify the second man.
No threats were made and there were no reported injuries, according to the police force.
“At this time, it is not clear what the circumstances or intent, if any, was around this incident,” Webster said, adding that patrols around mosques had been increased.
In a statement on social media,ManchesterCentral Mosque said: “The Muslim community in the UK has experienced a notable rise in threats and hostility over recent years.”
Source: Insider Paper
