Newtownards mosque attack: ‘I don’t think local people did this’ amid calls for end to ‘mindless attacks’

MEMBERS of a mosque in Newtownards have thanked people for their support following a petrol bomb and graffiti attack on the building.

Police officers discovered yellow cross-hairs spray painted on the front door and walls of the Bangladesh Islamic Centre on Greenwell Street in the Co Down town around 1am on Saturday morning.

A petrol bomb had also been thrown at a first-floor window, but it did not ignite.

The mayor of Ards Alistair Cathcart said there could “no justification for racism, violence and intimidation in our communities” as he urged attacks to stop.

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In a separate overnight incident, shots were also fired at an empty flat less than two miles away in the Shackleton Walk area around 12.45am.

On Saturday afternoon, members of the mosque told the Irish News they were disappointed by the attack but had largely felt embraced since they opened the small prayer house in 1999.

This is despite previous incidents in 2017, when a pigs head was left at the doorstop of the centre and the following year, where a group of men posed in Ku Klux Klan costumes outside the building.

Abdul Rob (60), founder and trustee, said: “What we think is that maybe people came from outside the area. I don’t think local people did this.”

He said that local representatives had always been supportive, and that when band parades took place outside there was never any negativity shown towards his members.

With the graffiti already removed from outside, he pointed out where the upstairs window where the petrol bomb had been thrown.

Despite the abuse, he said his message to the attackers was one of peace.

“If we see anybody like that at a demonstration, we’ll try and talk to them. Instead of going against them and fighting,” he said.

“We say, ‘you are our people. What’s wrong, have we done anything wrong?’ Our religion and faith doesn’t believe in fighting.

“I want to talk to you nicely. Even the younger generation, we tell them if anyone goes against them they should talk to them nicely.”

Alistair Cathcart, mayor of Ards and North Down, called the members of the mosque “our neighbours, friends and colleagues.”“

“It is a great relief that the nobody was hurt. There is no justification for racism, violence and intimidation in our communities and like others I would call for it to stop.”

The Muslim Council of Northern Ireland also condemned the “the mindless Islamophobic and hate attack”.

“We know that those perpetrators represent only a small minority of individuals with a far right agenda which is detrimental to the prosperity of Northern Ireland,” the statement read.

“We extend our warm gratitude for the overwhelming support received from all quarters including churches, MLAs, and neighbours.

“We are also indebted to the thousands of people that came out on the streets of Belfast (on Saturday and Sunday) denouncing such attacks with a resounding no to Islamophobia.

“We value our relationships with all communities and continue to work with relevant authorities on the betterment of society and to restore the friendly face of the Northern Irish Society which it is well known for.”

Up to 15,000 people took part in Saturday’s anti-racism demonstration outside Belfast City Hall.

Several protests in Belfast on Friday also passed without incident, but police are investigating a number of reports of damage to property and vehicles.

This included cars set alight in Tavanagh Street and Sandhurst Gardens, with both incidents being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.

The rear door of a restaurant in south Belfast’s Ormeau Road was also kicked with racial slurs shouted at workers inside.