A man has been charged with assault after an Imam at an East London mosque was ‘beaten’ with a weapon during prayers. The Al-Karam Mosque in East Ham says that the individual ‘entered under the pretext of offering a quick prayer’ in the early hours of Monday morning (July 22) before launching a ‘violent attack’.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Service said: “Police were called at about 5.30am on Monday July 22 following reports that a man had been assaulted at a mosque on Katherine Road, E7. The man was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.
“This matter is not being treated as a hate crime but as an isolated incident. A 32 year old man was charged on July 23 with possession of an offensive weapon and assault by beating.
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“He has been remanded in custody to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on July 24, 2024.”
Chief Inspector Sarah Jackson who leads Newham Neighbourhoods Policing Teams said: “I know that this will be highly alarming incident and I want to offer my reassurances that we are treating this with the utmost seriousness. Local faith officers have carried out reassurance visits at the mosque and with individuals concerned. We have also spoken with other partners and mosques to provide wider reassurance in the wake of this incident. Officers are also providing a high visibility presence at the mosque for Friday prayers and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to speak officers.”
Imam ‘demonstrated remarkable courage’
A statement from the mosque was posted on X at 5.21pm on Tuesday. It read: “In the early hours of Monday, July 22, 2024, shortly after the Fajr Prayer, an individual entered our mosque under the pretext of offering a quick prayer. Tragically, this individual soon launched a violent attack on our esteemed Imam. Demonstrating remarkable courage, our imam defended himself until the police arrived and apprehended the attacker.
“We are profoundly grateful that our Imam survived this horrific incident, and we commend the swift response of the police in ensuring the attacker was arrested. An investigation is now underway, and we are committed to fully cooperating with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that justice is served.
“We urge our congregation to support and adhere to the enhanced security measures being implemented, including the regulated opening and closing of the mosque during prayer times. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Imam and his loved ones during this difficult time.
“We pray for his continued safety and wellbeing. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
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