DCSIMG

Ham thrown at mosque in hate crime attack

jpco-11-7-12 Broadfield Mosque official opening (Pic by Jon Rigby)

jpco-11-7-12 Broadfield Mosque official opening (Pic by Jon Rigby)

A hate crime incident is being ivestigated after pieces of ham were thrown at a Crawley mosque.

Police were called to Broadfield Mosque, in Broadwood Rise, after a number of people leaving the mosque reported witnessing the incident at around 4pm on Tuesday last week (November 20).

Eating pork is considered sinful by Muslims because it is believed pigs are impure and unclean.

Sergeant Jim Collen, of Crawley police, said: “This was a very unpleasant incident which has naturally caused real anguish and anxiety amongst worshippers at the mosque. We take all reports of hate crime extremely seriously and this investigation will be no exception.

“We will deal with this matter robustly and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the police.”

A separate instance of minor disorder which occurred after the alleged ham-throwing is also being investigated by police.

Sgt Collen added: “We are aware of a relatively minor altercation that we hope to resolve using our restorative justice programme.

“It must not be allowed to take the focus away from our investigation of the hate crime as this remains our priority.”

A 16-year-old local boy was arrested on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence and has been bailed while enquiries continue.


Find It

"Business owner? - Claim your business and Advertise with us"

In association with qype logo

Looking for...

Featured advertisers

Jobs

Search for a job

Motors

Search for a car

Property

Search for a house

Weather for Crawley

Thursday 23 May 2013

5 day forecast

Today

Light showers

Light showers

Temperature: 4 C to 12 C

Wind Speed: 21 mph

Wind direction: North west

Tomorrow

Light showers

Light showers

Temperature: 6 C to 11 C

Wind Speed: 18 mph

Wind direction: West

Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.

Crawley Observer provides news, events and sport features from the Crawley area. For the best up to date information relating to Crawley and the surrounding areas visit us at Crawley Observer regularly or bookmark this page.