Nadine Osman
Anti-Muslim incidents spiked dramatically following the Southport stabbings in July 2024 and the October 7, 2023, attacks, according to data obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
The figures highlight a troubling surge in hate crimes against Muslims, with some of the UK’s largest police forces reporting offenses doubling in the aftermath of these tragedies.
The Southport tragedy on July 29, in which three young girls—six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar—were fatally attacked at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, triggered an alarming spike in hate crimes. Greater Manchester Police recorded an average of 35 anti-Muslim offenses per month in 2023, but this surged to 85 in August 2024, the month following the tragedy. While the monthly average fell to 21 in September, it remained well above usual levels.
West Yorkshire followed a similar pattern, with anti-Muslim incidents rising from an average of 33 per month in 2023 to 94 in August and 73 in September 2024. The British Transport Police reported monthly anti-Muslim offenses, usually under 20, spiking to 42 in November 2023 after the Hamas-Israel conflict and 29 in August 2024 following the Southport killings.
The Freedom of Information data obtained by PA media reveals steep increases in anti-Muslim hate crimes across Manchester, West Yorkshire, London, and the UK’s transport network. These figures underscore the ripple effect of national and international tragedies on local communities.
In the wake of the Southport and October 7 incidents, many regions also reported concurrent spikes in antisemitic offenses, with Greater Manchester Police recording a surge from an average of 13 per month to 85 in October 2023 after the Hamas-Israel conflict. Similarly, British Transport Police saw monthly antisemitic offenses rise from 7 to 60 in October and 70 in November.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) responded to these figures with “deep alarm,” citing systemic neglect in addressing anti-Muslim hate. MCB Secretary-General, Zara Mohammed, expressed concern over the escalating hate crimes, “These figures are shocking and deeply distressing. Anti-Muslim offenses continue to escalate, impacting real lives and entire communities. We have been warning about the rise in hate crime targeting Muslims for the past year.”
The MCB has called for a cross-government strategy to tackle anti-Muslim hate, alongside enhancements to existing hate crime legislation. It emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and community groups to define and combat anti-Muslim hate effectively.
Local communities, particularly those in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and London, have stepped up security measures at mosques and Islamic centres. Imam Sheik Hussein from Southport stressed the need for immediate support and protective resources.
Dame Diana Johnson, Home Office Minister for policing, fire and crime prevention, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, announcing £47.4 million annually for protective measures for Muslim and Jewish communities through 2027–28. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing hate crimes.
In a statement to The Muslim News, she said the statistics were “deeply troubling”. She said: “We are determined to stamp out the toxic vitriol which is spread by a minority of people, and perpetrators of hate crime should be in no doubt that they will face the full force of the law.”
Photo: Home Office Minister for Policing, Fire, and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, emphasized the seriousness of anti-Muslim hate crimes.
(Credit: David Woolfall/UK Parliament)
