Janine GriffithsLeeds City Council has issued a statement aimed at reassuring the city’s Muslim communities following an incident where a man was arrested, allegedly carrying an axe at a mosque. The message comes as many in Leeds – including in East Leeds where mosque attendance is high – mark the holy month and look for calm and safety in places of worship.
Council leaders said they understood that “any incident in a mosque will be of great concern to Muslim communities across Leeds, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.”
In response to the arrest, Leeds City Council has been in touch with senior police officers in the region and been “reassured that dedicated resources have been allocated to patrol mosques and faith sites across the city.” According to the statement, each neighbourhood policing area in Leeds will have “a dedicated uniformed officer in a marked vehicle to patrol sites within their respective Neighbourhood Policing Team areas.”
The council also highlighted the role of community reporting in keeping people safe. Police colleagues “are also encouraging the reporting of any suspicious or concerning activity. This will be logged and be reviewed daily by the on-duty NPT Inspector.”
Councillor Asghar Khan, Labour Councillor for Burmantofts and Richmond Hill stressed the city’s commitment to community safety and support, saying “Please be assured that this is being taken extremely seriously across the city and we remain fully supportive of all our communities.”
The reassurance from Leeds council follows national concern over the Manchester incident, which has been widely reported and has prompted increased visibility of police patrols at mosques and faith sites in cities across the UK.
