WFCOM Condemns Racially Aggravated Attack Outside Our Member Mosque

LONDON (9 Jul 2026) – The Waltham Forest Council of Mosques (WFCOM) unequivocally condemns the shocking racially and religiously aggravated assault that took place outside Noor Ul Islam Mosque in Leyton on Tue 7 July 2026. We stand in full solidarity with the mosque, its congregation and all those affected by this deeply disturbing incident.

We commend the swift response of the Metropolitan Police and pay tribute to the courage of worshippers who intervened to restrain the attacker, preventing what could have been an even more serious event.

Irfan Akhtar, spokesperson for the Waltham Forest Council of Mosques, said:

“This was not simply an attack on individuals leaving a mosque; it was an attack intended to intimidate an entire community as they sought to practise their faith in peace and safety. Every person should be able to attend their place of worship without fear of abuse, violence or intimidation.

Anti-Muslim hatred continues to rise across the United Kingdom. British Muslims are increasingly subjected to verbal abuse, physical assaults, online hatred and attacks on mosques, yet far too often these incidents fail to receive the public attention, political urgency and media scrutiny that they deserve. This disparity sends a damaging message to victims and risks normalising prejudice against Muslims.

WFCOM calls upon the Government, law enforcement agencies and community leaders to treat anti-Muslim hatred with the seriousness it demands. Hate crime must be challenged consistently, regardless of who the victims are. There can be no hierarchy of racism or religious hatred.

We also urge anyone who experiences or witnesses Islamophobic abuse or hate crime to report it to the police. Only by ensuring these incidents are properly recorded, investigated and prosecuted can we begin to tackle this growing threat.”

Anti-Muslim hate remains one of the most prevalent forms of religiously motivated hate crime in the UK. Official figures have consistently shown that Muslims account for the largest proportion of victims of religious hate crime, while independent monitoring organisations continue to report record levels of anti-Muslim incidents. Despite this, many offences remain unreported due to a lack of confidence that action will be taken.

The Waltham Forest Council of Mosques reaffirms its commitment to working with local authorities, the Metropolitan Police, faith groups and community partners to ensure that all places of worship remain safe and that every resident can live free from hatred, discrimination and fear.

Download Press Release – PDF Version