After the Bomb incident at Aisha Mosque in Walsall many people have been left not just with the shock of an explosive device being found on their doorstep but why the police have called the entire ordeal a ‘hate crime’ not a terrorist attack.
The item had been found on Friday 21st June and was taken inside the mosque by a well-meaning member of the public, a police spokesman confirmed at the time.
West Midlands Police then said the discovery was immiadatley and around 150 people were told to leave their homes as a “precautionary and temporary” measure.
Almost 40 homes close to the place of worship in Rutter Street, Walsall, were evacuated after bomb disposal experts were called to the scene.
The counter terrorism unit was also called in and carried out extensive searches throughout the mosque and its surrounding areas.
Straight after the mosque was given the all clear Superintendent Keith Fraser, the head of crime and operations for Walsall Police, said the incident was being treated as hate crime but the motive for placing the item near a mosque remained unclear.
A local resident and regularly worshipper of Aisha mosque (who wanted to stay unanimous) whose family had been praying at the mosque for 35 years spoke to Asian World and said “I have not known of any crime to take place in this mosque in the 35 years my family have been worshipping here not even a broken window. I am obviously very shocked as it is the mosque that I worship in. All I know is that the device did partially explode on Friday and now the mosque is open as usually in fact we have seen an increase in worshippers.”
Zia-Ul-Haq a senior member of Aisha mosque committee and official spokesman gave us his views on why he believes this was not just a hate crime but something more sinister.
He said “Initially police where not expecting a bomb then it partially exploded. It was then confirmed that is was a bomb that did in fact explode. We think it should be classed as a terrorism act not a hate crime our main concern is if the culprit/s are ever found and tried in court the court will trial them on hate crime has a very small sentence, unlike terrorism which carries a much heavier sentence. So this is why we have contacted the police and passed our concerns to them, they have told us they will look into it and note our compliant.
Then Zia told us that they are fully co=operating with the police and pass on any little bit of information however the police are giving them no information nothing at all.
When we asked Zia if he had any suspicions on whom the potential bomber was he said “I can’t see Muslims attacking Muslims I would rule that one out, EDL yes incidents have occurred involving them and the Muslim community in Walsall, so it is quite possible it cloud be linked to them.”
Zia concluded in telling us that they are considering tightening security at the mosque and have asked worshippers to be extra vigilant.
Local Birmingham councillor Waseem Zaffer told Asian world “I have raised my concerns to the police and the appropriate bodies on why this is not a named as a terrorist attack, as I strongly believes it is and will do everything he can to get this across to those in power.”
By Emb Hashmi
