AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): An Islamic school has been vandalised for the ‘second time in three months’ with windows smashed and religious texts ripped apart.
The attack took place at Bahr Academy in Newcastle yesterday evening, in what the imam described as a ‘disgusting act’.
He said that a ‘ladder had been used to smash a window’ and copies of the Koran had been ‘ripped and thrown on the floor’, in what he described as a ‘targeted and racist attack’.
Imam Abdul Muheet, who serves as head of the school said: ‘Neighbours near the school had called to say there were people inside and that windows had been smashed.
‘We arrived there at 9.20pm to find the individuals still there’.
He said the police had already identified all those who were suspected to be involved, adding that the second attack in three months had left him ‘incredibly upset’.
The school was attacked in January, with the words ‘Moslem terrorists’ and a swastika scrawled on the wall while debris was scattered across the floor.
Neighbourhood Inspector Alan Davison said: ‘At about 9pm last night we were called with a report that intruders had broken into the Bahr Academy building on Benwell Lane.
‘Our officers attended and found significant damage had been caused to the building. However, we believe we have already identified those involved and enquiries into the incident will continue today.
‘We are aware of the impact incidents of this nature can have on the community and I want to be clear that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.
‘Our officers will be visiting the Bahr Academy again today and working with them to put further measures in place to try and prevent anything like this happening again.
‘High visibility patrols will be taking place around the academy following this incident and anyone with any concerns is encouraged to speak to those officers.’
