'We're not safe at our mosque after another attack'

3 days ago

Georgie Dockerand

Haider Saleem,North West

The break-in happened the day after Eid al-Fitr celebrations at Elaf Mosque in Stockport

Ben Pickering Five men stand smiling in front of a gold and black balloon arch at Elaf Mosque. — The break-in happened the day after Eid al-Fitr celebrations at Elaf Mosque in Stockport

Worshippers at a Greater Manchester mosque have said they are frightened to return to the building after it was vandalised and items were stolen.

Ben Pickering said he arrived at the Elaf Mosque in Cheadle Heath, Stockport, at 05:34 GMT on Saturday to find it had been "ransacked", with religious texts "thrown on to the floor", equipment vandalised and items including £5,000 in cash stolen.

"It was incredibly distressing," the 38-year-old from Stockport told BBC Radio Manchester. "When I arrived I thought there was a chance there was somebody in the building waiting to attack a Muslim."

Greater Manchester Police said it was investigating. No arrests have been made.

Ben Pickering said he was "fearful" to enter the mosque after arriving to find the security box "damaged and broken" with the keys "snapped off"

Ben Pickering Man with short brown hair and beard wears a white shirt and navy blue jumper. He is smiling and stands in front of a balloon arch in gold and black. — Ben Pickering said he was "fearful" to enter the mosque after arriving to find the security box "damaged and broken" with the keys "snapped off"

Pickering said it had been "very upsetting" to see all of the damage.

"The door had been opened and as I entered into the mosque I could see that the donation box had been opened and thrown on the floor," he said.

"A number of the Qurans had been thrown on to the floor - it was malicious, it's hateful and it's very sad.

"I believe it was a dual attack - they were in there to get the money - but tipping the bookshelves over and damaging the kids' equipment? There's no financial value in that - I personally would class that as a hate crime.

"The damage to the equipment, taking the sound system out - it's just to prevent us from going about our daily tasks."

Pickering said it was "distressing" to have to wait for police to investigate before being able to pick up the discarded religious texts

Ben Pickering Books of religious texts are scattered on a room's red-carpeted floor. — Pickering said it was "distressing" to have to wait for police to investigate before being able to pick up the discarded religious texts

Pickering said it was particularly distressing since it had happened after several other attacks on the mosque during the last 12 months.

"It makes me feel quite vulnerable, to be honest," explained the father of two. "It makes me feel afraid and reluctant to go back.

"There's always that hesitation now before I get in the mosque.

"I worry that they are going to come back while children are there."

Pickering said: "It looked like they ransacked the area, breaking doors and rampaging through the whole building."

Ben Pickering Cupboards wide open with items scattered messily over the floor. — Pickering said: "It looked like they ransacked the area, breaking doors and rampaging through the whole building."

Mosque administrator Ahmed Helal, 38, said the incident was especially sad since it had happened the day after a large Eid celebration at the mosque.

The attack meant another celebration, planned for Saturday, had to be called off.

"The day before had been a very happy day - a very good day and a very successful day," Helal said.

"We had lots of kids and families, balloons, chocolate, sweets and drinks - and we had planned to do another event on the second day of Eid, but we had to cancel it because we are not safe."

Helal said the Elaf Mosque community now felt under threat during their day-to-day activities.

"We are scared to host the prayers now," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "I am worried about our kids, about our families, about the ladies.

"We did not feel safe even yesterday - we had to close the main door behind us because we were frightened during prayers."

The mosque said it had suffered up to £30,000 worth of damage, including theft and damage to its brand new £6,000 sound system.

A fundraiser started by Pickering has since raised more than £9,800.

The mosque hopes this will aid repairs and replace equipment.

Police confirmed an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

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