Racist graffiti scrawled at mosque three times in three days

Police are investigating two further incidents of racist graffiti scrawled outside a mosque entrance a day after worshippers washed previous vandalism away.

Offensive slurs were first spray painted at the gates to the Masjid-e-Salaam mosque in Preston, Lancashire, some time overnight between Thursday and Friday.

A hate crime investigation was launched and the writing was removed from the gatepost, but a second report of graffiti in the same location was made to police on Saturday at 10.45pm.

At 6.15am on Sunday, a further report was made that more offensive writing had been added to the gatepost.

Police said it was ‘completely unacceptable’ that the ‘hateful vandalism’ had appeared three times in as many days.

Chief Inspector Gary Crowe said: ‘There have now been three reports in a matter of days and this is understandably causing a lot of upset and concern in the local community.

‘I would like to reassure people, especially worshippers in the area, that we are taking this extremely seriously.

‘This is completely unacceptable hateful vandalism and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.

‘We are working to get the most recent graffiti removed as quickly as possible and would like to thank the community for their support with our investigation so far.

‘We will continue to maintain a presence in the area and are following up on forensic and CCTV inquiries.

‘I would urge anyone with any information at all to speak to us as soon as possible.’

On Friday 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.

An accompanying 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.’

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log number 424 of April 21.