One UK mosque attacked ‘every five days’, says British Muslim Trust | UK news

A mosque is attacked every five days in Britain, according to new data released by the government’s anti-Muslim hate tracking partner.

More than 70 attacks on mosques were recorded in the UK last year, involving intimidation, violence, property damage, harassment, anti-Muslim hate speech, online harassment and vandalism.

The British Muslim Foundation warned that momentum in attacks was increasing and called for urgent government intervention.

The top three hotspots for attacks are London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. There have been nine separate mosque attacks in London and three attacks on a mosque in Birmingham in the last 12 months.

Data from the Home Office shows anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 19% in the 12 months to March 2025.

Akeela Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, said: “We are seeing a steady increase in the number of attacks on mosques and believe the government must do everything it can to help mosques protect themselves.”

Earlier this year the government announced it would provide up to £40 million in aid to mosques as part of its protective security plan for mosques. The initiative will allow mosques to apply for funding for physical security measures such as CCTV, alarms, fencing and other security personnel services.

Home Office guidance says mosques should apply for “safety measures” if they are subject to or feel vulnerable to hate crime, or if there is hate crime against other places of worship or congregations in the area. The guidance warns that “applications that do not contain strong evidence or do not clearly explain the risk are unlikely to be successful.”

Ahmed has previously called on ministers to remove these requirements for applying for protective security, saying it created a significant barrier to support.

The British Muslim Foundation said it was difficult for mosques applying for funding to access the scheme, with some waiting up to 18 months to receive funding. The monitoring group added that not only was there a backlog, but many were also denied funding without explanation.

“A mosque is vulnerable just because it is a mosque. Currently, they are waiting for months in fear of another attack due to the backlog. In many cases, the police do not even intervene in low-level incidents, which scares people and leaves them defenseless,” Ahmed said.

“It’s great that this funding and initiative exists, but we need to recognize that the momentum in attacks is increasing and we need to react and prepare for that.”

Ahmed added: “We recommend exploring better ways to deliver funding to mosques as smoothly as possible, including rolling over funding to speed up its distribution, especially given recent events.”

Last month, a survey by the British Muslim Trust and British Future found that one in six Britons believe the rise in the Muslim population “poses a fundamental threat to UK culture”, raising alarm that hostile attitudes towards Muslims are being normalised.

A Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman said: “Muslims in the UK face appalling levels of religious hate crime. It is crucial that they not only stay safe, but also feel safe.

“This government has increased funding for protective security at mosques, Muslim faith schools and community centers to record levels – up to £40 million in 2026-27.

“We strive to process all applications as quickly as possible.”