Police are not treating a spate of sledgehammer attacks on city mosques as terror-related or motivated by far right extremism.

Five mosques - four in Aston and one in Erdington - had their windows and doors smashed in during the early hours of last Thursday (March 21).

A 34-year-old from Perry Barr man handed himself in at a police station and was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act. 

Witton Islamic Centre

West Midlands Police, supported by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit , has now announced they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

The force also said it is satisfied the attacks were not motivated by right wing extremism and were not terror-related.

Meanwhile, a separate investigation has been launched after windows were smashed at a mosque on Cromer Road, Balsall Heath at 6.30am on Saturday morning (23 March). This incident is not being linked to the earlier mosque attacks.

The damage to the Al-Habib mosque on Fentham Road in Birmingham.

The Witton Islamic Centre in Witton Road, Aston, Jame Masjid in Birchfield Road, Perry Barr and Jam-E-Masjid Qiblah Hadhrat Sahib Gulhar Shareef in Slade Road, Erdington, were vandalised together with the Masjid Faizul Islam on The Broadway, Aston and The Muslim Community Centre Aston, in Albert Road, Aston.

The events, which happened less than a week after the New Zealand massacre, understandably left worshippers feeling nervous.

Police later sought to relieve those concerns.

Masjid Faizul Islam mosque where windows were smashed.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward said: “We continue to work in partnership with mosques and local communities around the West Midlands.

“There will be a visible police presence at key locations to offer reassurance to our communities and we continue to offer any assistance in providing security advice.”

Those with concerns are urged to speak to officers directly or get in contact with their local neighbourhood teams. Details can be found here - https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-local-police/