Three mosques located in Kent, have been sent offensive letters, with one containing a white substance.
Police have said that they are investigating the possibility that the three letters, sent to mosques in Maidstone, Canterbury and Gravesend, are linked.
Police closed off the area at Canterbury Mosque in Giles Lane, after the white substance was reported, however after testing the powder, it was soon discovered that the white powder was harmless.
Another report in Maidstone, led to another mosque being cordoned off, as well as another letter being sent to a Mosque in Gravesend, although that letter did not contain any white powder.
Thankfully, no one was injured, although police are continuing the investigations. Local communities in Canterbury have labelled the letter as a ‘serious attempt to attack’ the Imam.
A local mosque member claimed the Imam was ‘injured by powder’ in the package.
In a statement on Facebook, Canterbury Muslim Community England said:
‘Following a serious attempt to attack the Masjid and in particular the Imam Ihsan Khan the Masjid has been evacuated and closed for now with police cars and tapes on both ends of the route. No one is allowed to enter the Masjid so please make it easy for the police and let them do their job.’
‘This failed attempt to terrorise the Muslim Community will not prevent Muslims from practising Islam freely in Canterbury. ‘Insha’Allah the perpetrator will be caught by the police and punished according to the law.’
A member of the mosque said: ‘He’s [the Imam] been injured. The imam is currently being attended to.’
He added: ‘We received in a letter of hate in connection with the April 3 Hate a Muslim day.’
‘He opened the letter, and there was a powder that came out which made him start scratching.’
A Kent Police spokesman said: ‘Kent Police received a report of a suspicious package in Giles Lane, Canterbury, at 12.23pm.’
‘Officers are at the scene, along with crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the South East Coast Ambulance Service.’
