Belfast Islamic Centre: Man arrested over attack

During prayers at the Belfast Islamic Centre, an attack occurred, causing a security alert in the south of the city on Friday night. According to Kashif Akram, a member of the centre, a window was broken, and a device was thrown inside while around 30 people were praying upstairs. The incident led to the arrest of a 34-year-old man, who remains in custody.

The Muslim community, including those who were praying at the time of the attack, were left alarmed and upset by the event. Despite the commotion and disruption caused by the attack, no injuries were reported. The swift response of security workers at the building and the police was commended by Akram, who also expressed gratitude for the reopening of the centre early the next day.

Upon arrival at the scene, Raied Al-Wazzan, a former treasurer of the Belfast Islamic Centre, discovered the evacuation of the centre and neighboring properties. It was reported that an individual attempted to enter the building through the front door but was prevented from doing so. The perpetrator resorted to smashing a ground-floor window with a brick before being interrupted by a passer-by who tried to intervene.

In response to the incident, political figures such as Alliance assembly member Paula Bradshaw, Sinn Féin’s Deirdre Hargey, and Green Party councillor Áine Groogan condemned the attack, labeling it as an act of hate. The importance of standing against racism and bigotry to prevent further harm to the Islamic community was emphasized. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) maintained a presence at the scene with cordons in place overnight during the alert

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