Surge in Mosque Attacks Prompts Calls for Faster Funding

In the past year, anti-Muslim incidents targeting places of worship have intensified across England and Wales. The government-partnered monitoring group for anti-Muslim hatred recorded more than 70 mosque attacks, ranging from intimidation and vandalism to physical violence and online abuse. London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands account for the highest concentration of incidents, with nine separate attacks reported in London and three attacks on a single Birmingham mosque within the last 12 months.

The Guardian

• Anti-Muslim hate crime rose 19 % in the 12 months to March 2025, according to Home Office data.

The Guardian

• The British Muslim Trust’s recent study, conducted with British Future, found that one in six Britons view the growth of the Muslim population as a “foundational threat to UK culture.”

The Guardian

• The Protective Security for Mosques scheme, announced earlier this year, earmarks up to £40 million for 2026-27 to fund CCTV, alarms, fencing and security personnel.

The Guardian

The department’s guidance requires mosques to demonstrate a clear risk or prior incident to qualify for security measures, and notes that applications lacking strong evidence are unlikely to be approved.

The Guardian

• “We are seeing a steady rise in the number of attacks against mosques, and we believe the government should be doing everything it can to help mosques protect themselves.” — Akeela Ahmed, the chief executive of the British Muslim Trust

The Guardian

• “A mosque is vulnerable purely because it’s a mosque. Currently, they’re waiting for months while living in fear of another attack because of the backlog. In many cases, police aren’t even responding to low-level incidents, leaving people frightened and vulnerable,” — Akeela Ahmed, the chief executive of the British Muslim Trust

The Guardian

• “We recommend exploring better ways to get the funding to mosques as smoothly as possible including that the fund is devolved in order to speed up its delivery, especially given recent events.” — Akeela Ahmed, the chief executive of the British Muslim Trust

The Guardian

These statements underscore the British Muslim Trust’s call for streamlined access to protective funding and highlight concerns that bureaucratic hurdles leave many congregations vulnerable while awaiting assistance.

The Guardian