Elham Asaad Buaras
East London Mosque endured its second bomb threat in two months. London’s largest mosque was forced to close on February 2 as police evacuated scores of people and scanned for explosive devices.
A spokesperson for the mosque said on X, ‘The Police have carried out a thorough check of the premises and did not find anything suspicious.’
‘We also thank the community for their patience and urge everyone to remain vigilant and steadfast in the face of such threats. Though the Muslim community continues to endure escalating threats, our unity, resilience, and faith will guide us through these trying times.’
Mosque officials confirmed to The Muslim News they received “two bomb threats on that day. The first at 1:55 PM and the second at 5:28 PM. Both threats were sent via email.”
“Due to an ongoing investigation and because of the sensitivity and seriousness of the threat, we are currently unable to disclose the full details.
We’ve asked the police for more extensive guidance on handling these types of threats and are currently in ongoing consultation with them regarding the matter. We treat all threats to our community and congregation with the utmost seriousness. Ensuring their safety and security is our top priority, and we are committed to taking all necessary measures to keep them safe,” The Mosque added.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This is the second bomb threat that police have had to attend at the East London Mosque in just a couple of months, and I thank the police for their quick response. There is no place for Islamophobia and hate in our city.”
The threat is the second received by the mosque in two months, it was forced to temporarily close following a similar threat by email, on December 7.
(Photo credit: Ian Wright/Flickr Commons)
