Politicians condemn attack on Islamic Centre while people prayed
A local MLA said a device was thrown inside the building during evening prayer and forced it to be evacuated.
Advertisement
Police said they attended a security alert on University Road in south Belfast on Friday night.
A number of cordons were put in place and members of the public were asked to avoid the area.
A 34-year-old man was arrested and was taken into police custody.
Alliance MLA for South Belfast Paula Bradshaw condemned the attack, which she said did 'not reflect the diversity of south Belfast in 2025'.
Advertisement
'This attack was again designed to cause fear among people inside the centre, who were at prayer at the time.
'Nevertheless, I am thankful for the intervention of a nearby passer-by and for the work of the police. Those were much more reflective of the true spirit of Belfast, where most people rejoice in diversity.
'I would like to express my solidarity with all those who were evacuated and my thanks to all those who worked to ensure their safety.'
Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey said 'no-one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship'.
Advertisement
'Acts like these, fuelled by hate, spread fear and division, and target people who have come to our communities to build a life and call this place home.
'It's vital that all political leaders speak out and stand united against this disgusting behaviour.'
Green Party councillor Áine Groogan condemned the attack as a 'cowardly and vicious act'.
'I am horrified to hear about the attack on the Islamic Centre during evening prayers,' she said.
Advertisement
'I want to pay tribute to the courageous passer-by who intervened and prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome.
'It is terrifying to consider what might have happened and I sincerely hope that all those present are recovering from this traumatic ordeal.'
She added: 'This attack is yet another reminder of the very real danger faced by our Islamic community. The recent rise in racist hate and violence on our streets is a shameful stain on our society.
Ireland
Facebook being used to coordinate racist attacks i...
Read More
'We must all take responsibility for actively challenging racism, misinformation and bigotry wherever it appears before someone is seriously hurt.
Advertisement
'I urge those politicians who continue to hide behind the notion of so-called 'legitimate concerns' around migration to reflect on the consequences of their words.
'Such narratives are as disingenuous as they are dangerous. They help foster a culture in which hate can thrive. Frankly, they should know better.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Former Billericay head teacher found guilty of child sex offences
A former secondary school head teacher has been found guilty of committing sexual offences against a Brumby was at Mayflower High School in Billericay, Essex, when the allegations came to light in 64-year-old, of Wellands in Witham, Essex, was convicted by a jury at Southend Crown Court of five offences, including two counts of rape of a ex-wife Elaine Brumby, of Kiln Way, Great Wakering, Essex, was found not guilty of all six charges she was accused of. Lee Brumby was suspended from the high school when the historical allegations of the charges related to any pupil at the school, past or present. The offences took place between 2001 and had also worked at Southend High School for Girls, St Clere's School in Standford-le-Hope, and at a school in briefly worked at a police Brumby had told the trial: "I'm struggling to know why these allegations have been made".But the jury returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for just over 13 found him guilty of five counts: two of rape, two of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one of indecency with a offences all related to the same Brumby was found not guilty of four counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual this week, Judge Richard Conley had summed up how she had told jurors she was not her ex-husband's "partner in crime".The proceedings this month were a retrial, after the original jury was discharged in November due to administrative difficulties. Lee Brumby is due to be sentenced at the same court on 19 September. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bike vigilante Cycling Mikey returns to scene where he pushed his bike in front of a car to perform same stunt AGAIN
Controversial vigilante cyclist Cycling Mikey returned to the scene where he pushed his bike in front of a car to perform the same stunt again. The biker, whose real name is Michael Van Erp, this week uploaded a five-minute clip showing him wheeling his bicycle into a car as the driver tried to pass roadworks on Paddenswick Road in Hammersmith. As his bike lay smashed into several pieces on the road, Cycling Mikey continued to block cars with his body to prevent another driver passing through. Today, he returned to the same spot again to stop drivers getting past, blocking the road and wagging his finger at anyone who disobeyed him. As one grey car travelled down the road, Cycling Mikey drove in front of it to act as a barrier, forcing the driver to turn around as he told them off with a hand gesture. At one point, a Tesco delivery lorry spotted the vigilante cyclist and decided to turn back, receiving a thumbs up from a pleased Cycling Mikey as a result. The lorry driver then shouted back 'are you Cycling Mikey?' to which the cyclist replied, 'I am, you're all good mate, you're all good'. At the end of the clip, he wrote: 'These drivers were all a lot more reasonable than the crazy Fiat driver you all saw Sunday and yesterday. 'They're still in the wrong and should not be driving like this. The good thing is that there were quite a few drivers who did not even try to run the No Entry. Well done and a high five to those!' Mr Van Erp, 52, rides through London with his GoPro as he attempts to catch drivers on their phones - before confronting them on video and taking their number plate. The road safety warrior claims to have caught more than 2,000 offenders since first strapping on his 'helmet-cam' back in 2006 - with his motoring victims including Frank Lampard and Chris Eubank. But the cyclist - who works as a carer and roller-skating instructor - was last year caught out by his own cameras as he pedalled over a London crossing despite the lights being red. After the incident which saw his bike crushed, the activist picked up the damaged parts scattered along the road in west London. Mike Van Erp, 50, better known by his YouTube name, Cycling Mikey, rides around London with a GoPro to catch drivers using their phones - often in traffic jams or by red lights - before confronting them on video and noting down their number plate Mr van Erp told The Telegraph: 'I did not throw the bike at his car. 'I did not go out with the intention of a collision. 'I just wanted to block him, but his unexpectedly savage acceleration and my slightly late reaction meant we ended up on a collision course.' The cyclist vigilante regularly records and reports incidents, as well as keeping track of their eventual conclusion. Mr Van Erp routinely catches motorists committing road offences, including using their mobile phones behind the wheel - and even once caught a driver inhaling nitrous oxide.
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Knife crime and other offences fall in London, says Sir Sadiq Khan
Sir Sadiq Khan has admitted there is a "long way to go" when it comes to fighting crime in London, despite figures suggesting a potential drop in some serious mayor says new City Hall data shows knife crime dropped by 19% between April and June this year compared with the same period last year, while the number of residential burglaries, personal thefts and personal robberies also some offences, such as possession of weapons, rape and drug trafficking, all increased in that recorded crime has increased by 31.5 % in the Metropolitan Police area of London in the last 10 years, with violent crime increasing by 40%, according to official crime data. The data from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime - which is not yet publicly available - appears to show annual falls in:Theft from a person from 25,272 to 21,937 (13%)Robbery of personal property from 7,106 to 6,209 (13%)Residential burglary from 7,974 to 7,144 (10%)The mayor of London said: "The latest figures show robbery, theft, residential burglary and knife crime are down in London, but there's still a long way to go before I'm satisfied."Backed with record funding from City Hall, the Met is putting high-visibility policing at the heart of fighting crime." 'Crime is up' According to the Office for National Statistics, many crimes recorded against people increased between the years ending June 2015 and March 2025, including violence against the person (40%), possession of offensive weapons (23%), sexual offences (75%) and theft from the person (207%).Reform UK Assembly Member Alex Wilson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service : "If Sadiq Khan thinks London is getting more safe, he needs to get out more. "The idea he points to incremental changes in just a few categories is ridiculous.""The long-term trends under Sadiq Khan are clear: knife crime is up, theft is up, shoplifting is up, fare evasion is up, phone thefts at the highest ever seen, and just 2% of burglaries in outer London result in a charge or analysis of the figures comes soon after the Metropolitan Police laid out proposals to close almost half of police station front counters in London - a move critics said would have a "devastating" impact on Met's commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has said despite funding increases, the forces faces a £260m shortfall and will have to reduce its he said the force was becoming "more capable" and was focused on "driving down crime on issues that matter most to Londoners".The Mayor of London has pledged a policing blitz on London's 20 most blighted town centres for shoplifting, robbery, knife crime and antisocial behaviour this summer.
