List of attacks on mosques in the United Kingdom

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Islamophobia in the United Kingdom has manifested in many violent attacks on Muslim institutions such as mosques and cultural centres. In 2022 a report by Muslim Engagement and Development found that about 42% of mosques in the United Kingdom experienced religiously motivated attacks in the preceding three years.[1] Between July and October 2025, 25 mosques were attacked.[2]

Attacks

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Date Target Location Perpetrator (motive) Details
March 2005 Islamic Cultural Centre Ivy Arch Road, Worthing One man jailed for three years for arson.[3]
13 February 2011 Mid Sussex Islamic Centre & Masjid Wivelsfield Road, Haywards Heath Three young men convicted for arson, theft of paraffin and a public order offence which involved racially or religiously aggravated fear of violence.[4] Damage caused to building.[4]
3 December 2011 Mosque Stoke-on-Trent Two men jailed for arson with intent to endanger life. Suggested to be revenge for alleged burning of Remembrance poppies.[5] One perpetrator was a former member of English Defence League and British National Party.[5]
June 2013 Masjid-E-Noor mosque Ryecroft Street, Gloucester Two men jailed for arson with reckless endangerment to life.[6] Both perpetrators were members of the English Defence League.[6]
8 March 2014 Mosque Manor Road, Bletchley One man jailed for arson with intent to endanger life and a racially and religiously aggravated public order offence.[7]
19 June 2017 Muslim pedestrians near the Muslim Welfare House and Finsbury Park Mosque Finsbury Park, London A man intentionally drove a van into a crowd of Muslim pedestrians resulting in the death of a man and 11 injuries. The attack was found to be motivated by Islamophobia.[8]
10 November 2019 Bevan House Mosque Camp Roads, Haverhill, Suffolk A person smashed a window to gain access before deliberately starting a fire on top of the building's prayer rooms.[9]
10 September 2021 Didsbury Mosque Burton Road, Didsbury Arson attack where beer cans filled with petrol were set alight at door. Police treated as an Islamophobic hate crime.[10]
8 August 2023 Northbrooks mosque Harlow, Essex Arson attack that police suspect was racially aggravated.[11]
10 August 2024 Mosque Newtownards, Northern Ireland A petrol bomb thrown at a mosque during the 2024 United Kingdom riots.[12]
20 June 2025 Islamic Centre University Road, Belfast A man charged with a number of offences including attempted arson with intent to endanger life, attempt to cause an explosion, making explosives with intent to endanger life and criminal damage.[13] A viable explosive device was thrown through the window.[13]
28 June 2025 Masjid Aqsa mosque Blackburn Set alight after a window was broken.[14]
24 September 2025 Clarkston Community Centre Mosque East Renfrewshire A pole was thrown through a window while children were inside.[15]
4 October 2025 Peacehaven mosque Peacehaven, East Sussex Two masked individuals spraying an accelerant on the front door before igniting a fire.[16]
5 October 2025 Mosque Headlands, Kettering Attempt made to set fire to a mosque's front door.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Caato, Bashir Mohamed. "UK's first-ever survey details attacks on mosques, Islamic bodies". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  2. ^ Osuh, Chris (7 November 2025). "Flags and Christian nationalist slogans feature in soaring attacks on UK mosques". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Mosque arsonist sent to prison". BBC News. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Three men sentenced over arson attack on Sussex mosque". BBC News. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Stoke-on-Trent mosque arsonists jailed". BBC News. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Gloucester mosque arson attack: Two men jailed". BBC News. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Milton Keynes mosque fire: Richard Bevington jailed for arson". BBC News. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Man guilty of Finsbury Park attack murder". BBC News. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Man arrested on suspicion of arson after mosque fire". BBC News. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Didsbury Mosque arson attack: CCTV image released". BBC News. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Harlow mosque fire sees two teens arrested for arson". BBC News. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Man in his 40s arrested over attack on mosque in Co Down". RTÉ.ie. 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Man charged after Islamic Centre attack". BBC News. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Police investigate arson attack on mosque". BBC News. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Police investigate pole thrown through mosque window". BBC News. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Police release photos of mosque arson suspects". BBC News. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Man charged over attempted arson at mosque". BBC News. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.