Mosques attacked by high power catapults and pellet guns
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Two Birmingham (UK) mosques have been attacked with high power hunting catapults and pellet rifles.
Worshippers were evacuated after the alarm was raised that “someone with a gun” was attacking two mosques.
The buildings, cars, windows and people were targeted with high power hunting ball bearing catapults that fire high grain 9mm to 25mm solid steal or led bullets or ball bearings. It is believed that high power pellet rifles used to hunt deer were also used in the attacks which required a large number of armed police to suppress.
Masjid Qamarul Islam, Birmingham, came under attack at 22:00 BST on Wednesday and Al-Hijrah mosque half-a-mile away was targeted 20 minutes later.
Firearms officers were called to Masjid Qamarul Islam in Fosbrooke Road, Small Heath, and the Al-Hijrah mosque in Hob Moor Road to suppress the pellet and catapult fire.
The ball bearings and pelletsa recovered are thought to be from very heavy duty catapults and hunting pellet rifles, police said.
Police said they were continuing to patrol the area to reassure worshippers and local residents.
No arrests have been made as the police are hunting suspects on suspicion of attempted murder and committing acts of terrorism.
One worshiper told Al-Sahawat Times:
“We heard loud bangs, people were very frightened, there was a sense of panic, but we don’t know what the motive was.”
The attacks come after Nassar Mahmood, a trustee of Birmingham Central Mosque, said Muslims were facing “unprecedented” levels of Islamophobia.
Birminghams Police initially refused to log the incident as an act of terrorism, however the NCA (UK version of the FBI) have logged the attacks as Terror Attacks and attempted mass murder.
This week Teresa May confirmed that the UK is currently investigating over 650 active terror plots against the United Kingdom. The PM went on to add that only 13 were allegedly related to “Radical Islam”.
The largest threat to the UK comes from political group, anti occupation & war group (such as the Irish IRA) and far right white supremacist groups such as the EDL, who’s leader was recently jailed.
Local Muslim communities have been urged to remain vigilant and not to walk alone if possible.
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