By Elham Asaad Buaras additional reporting Ahmed J Versi
London, (The Muslim News): The chairman of a mosque recounted to The Muslim News the harrowing ordeal of being trapped inside the building while far-right extremists targeted it with violence. He described the situation as “terrifying,” but praised the local community for their “superb” support.
Ibrahim Hussein was bewildered by the attack on Southport Mosque, which involved abuse and projectiles. He feared the rioters might break in and “burn the place down.” He detailed the destruction: “They smashed windows, the building fences, they destroyed everything they could, including the surrounding wall.”
On July 30, hundreds of men, reported by Merseyside Police linked to the far-right English Defence League (EDL) and many wearing masks and hoodies, clashed with police outside the mosque in Southport.
Riot police were pelted with bricks and bottles, and police vans were set ablaze as the crowd gathered. This turmoil was sparked by a false rumour allegedly claimed to be spread by an online Russian news site, which inaccurately claimed that a 17-year-old arrested in connection with the previous day’s tragic stabbing of three children in the seaside town was an asylum seeker named Ali Al-Shakati who illegally arrived in Britain by boat in 2023.
The true identity of the suspect, revealed on August 1 during the first court hearing, was Axel Rudakubana, a Cardiff-born teen of Rwandan heritage. At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Andrew Menary KC decided not to impose reporting restrictions on the defendant’s identity, stating, “Continuing to prevent the full reporting has the disadvantage of allowing others to spread misinformation, in a vacuum.”
Meanwhile, footage on social media captured the burning police vans and the fierce clashes between protesters and police, with chants of “No surrender!” and “English till I die!” echoing through the scene.
The confrontation led to injuries for 53 police officers, with eight requiring hospital treatment for serious injuries such as fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose, and concussion. Three police dogs were also injured. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rioters for “hijacking” a vigil meant to honour victims of the stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club.
The Metro Mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotherham, argued that the Southport knifeman’s religion is irrelevant. He noted that some believe the violence resulted from a “wall of silence” about the attacker’s identity but insisted that focusing on his religion only serves to “stir up tension.”
“You have to ask yourself the question ‘why would anybody want to know the religion of the perpetrator of this vicious and heinous crime?’”, said Rotherham, its “to stir up more tension in this community.”
[Photo: Ibrahim Hussein, Imam of Southport Islamic Society Mosque speaks to the press as the teams repair the road and garden walls around the Southport Islamic Society Mosque in Southport, UK on July 31, 2024. Photojournalist: Raşid Necati Aslım/AA]
Terrifying ordeal
Hussein described the terror of being confined in the mosque with eight others, stating, “It was absolutely awful, horrendous.” Social media alerts about the rioters’ plans to “get people out ”of the mosque prompted him to advise worshippers to stay away. He arrived around 8 p.m. to secure the premises. Plainclothes security stationed nearby were eventually forced to take refuge inside the mosque “when they came under attack.”
Hussein managed to leave at midnight with a police escort to the local station. Reflecting on the violence, he said, “We couldn’t understand this viciousness that was going on, and even the police were taking a hammering from this lot.”
Hussein noted that the rioters were “outsiders, with nothing to do with Southport.” He emphasized his positive relationship with the community: “We’ve lived here 30 years, no bother at all. We love this community. The community loves us. We don’t have any issues.”
He expressed gratitude to the police for their efforts, acknowledging their “very bad beating” and stating, “I would like to thank them for their support because at one point we thought they (the rioters) were coming in and they were going to burn the place down.”
Merseyside Police have arrested four men in connection with the violence. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy assured the Southport community that the force is “absolutely planning” for the possibility of further disorder in the evening and over the weekend.
The mosque reopened the following day. Hussein conveyed his intention to “pray for the whole of Southport,” including the victims of the attack, the police, and the community “to stay as beautiful as it has always been.” He praised the local response, noting that residents had brought flowers and organized repairs, stating, “We love them, and they love us. Absolutely no problem between us; at six o’clock in the morning they were coming to clean up the streets.”
In response to the violence, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) issued a statement condemning the far-right rioters and the exploitation of Southport’s tragedy. MCB Secretary-General Zara Mohammed said, “The horrific murders of young girls in Southport have moved the entire nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Mohammed criticized the far-right’s use of the tragedy to incite further hatred and division, drawing comparisons with recent incidents in London. She stated, “At a time of great tragedy, loss, and mourning, we must stand firm against the cynical forces of hatred and division. This does not represent our diverse Britain and the people of Southport.
“The Government must address the increasing rise of violent far-right extremism targeting Muslim communities. More must be done to tackle Islamophobia and offer reassurance at this time.
“We commend the authorities for their swift action, and our prayers are with the mosque, the families of the victims of yesterday’s attack, and the local community.”
Potential proscription of the English Defence League
In the wake of the riots, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner indicated that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will consider whether to proscribe the English Defence League as a terrorist organization. Rayner said: “We have laws, and we have proscribed groups and we do look at that and it is reviewed regularly.
“So, I’m sure that that will be something that the Home Secretary will be looking at as part of the normal course of what we do and the intelligence that we have.
“But I think the bigger issue is about taking on the minority of people that have got thuggish behaviour, that actually that’s not our British values.”
Rayner added: “The inciting of violence and violence on the street has absolutely no place in our democracy, and we have to crack down on those that perpetuate violence and spread it within our communities.”
Elsewhere, James Cleverly, the shadow Home Secretary, called on the Government to clamp down “hard and fast” on those spreading misleading information, adding: “As home secretary, I took a clear and firm stance on protesters and civil disorder, and went to America to ensure the tech companies properly understood that the UK Government expected them to step up to stop the spread of disinformation.
“They must do so now. We all have a duty to honour truth, respect our police, and check before we share.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not yet visited Southport Mosque to give support to the local Muslim community.
Editor of The Muslim News tweeted on Friday:
“Muslims nationwide are on high alert as fears rise over potential mosque attacks. Discussions in WhatsApp groups centre on protecting mosques & communities criticizing govt for its lack of response. No officials incl PM have visited #Southport Mosque after its far-right attack 1/
..with Muslims noting that synagogue attack would likely prompt immediate govt action. Imam Ibrahim Hussein & 8 others sought safety by locking themselves in, while Hartlepool saw riots near mosques. More attacks anticipated. #Muslims 2/”.
Photo: Teams repair the road and garden walls around the Southport Islamic Society Mosque that has been attacked by the far-right extremists, following a knife attack in which 3 children were killed and 10 people, including 8 children, were injured in Southport, UK on July 31, 2024. Photojournalist: Raşid Necati Aslım/AA
