Mosque falls victim to hate crime after vandals daub it with racist graffiti

An investigation has been launched after vandals scrawled racist graffiti on the gates of a mosque in Lancashire.

Police believe the offensive slurs were spray painted at the Masjid-e-Salaam mosque in Preston some time overnight between Thursday and Friday.

The writing has since been removed and the incident is being treated as a hate crime.

The mosque’s official Twitter account posted a photograph of the words scrawled at the site entrance, alongside a photograph after it was cleaned up.

A message read: ‘Before and after… all cleaned up in readiness for the main Friday prayers.

‘Our Mosque is open for all and do not harbour any evil for those who wish otherwise.’

Chief Insp Gary Crowe: ‘Hate incidents and crimes of any kind are not acceptable.

‘There is no place for hate in Lancashire.

‘We are making a number of inquiries, including looking at CCTV, to find out who is responsible for this crime.’

He added patrols have been increased in the area.

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log number 297 of April 19.