Anti-Islam slogans painted near London mosque
LONDON: Wednesday’s Scotland Yard said they opened a thorough investigation into the anti-Islamic slogans sprayed on a building near a mosque and cultural center in south London.
On Wednesday, Scotland Yard officers were called at about 11 a.m. near the North Brixton Islamic Cultural Center on Brixton Road after claims that “anti-Islamic slogans” were painted on a nearby building.
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Officials said they collaborated with the Lambeth Council to remove as soon as possible the “offensive remarks” from the Brixton site. “Inquiries are ongoing at this time as part of a full investigation,” they added.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “disgusted” with the vandalism, which comes only days after the daubing of anti-Semitic messages across several shop fronts and a synagogue in northern London.
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“Disgusted to hear that Islamophobic slogans have been spray-painted near the North Brixton Islamic Centre. Metropolitan Police are working with Lambeth Council to have them removed,” Khan tweeted.
He added, “Let me be clear: all prejudice is cowardly and criminals will face the full force of the law.”
The Metropolitan Police in its statement said, “Shockingly, hate crime affects people from all walks of life and impacts on communities across London. All members of our communities have the right to go about their daily lives without fear of verbal, physical or written abuse. The Met does not tolerate any form of discrimination, and we are committed to tackling offences like this as thoroughly as possible.”
Florence Eshalomi, the local Labour MP for Vauxhall, tweeted: “Disturbing to hear of a racist incident at the North Brixton Islamic cultural centre – it was reported that anti-Islamic slogans had been spray-painted on [the] building opposite the cultural centre.”
