Rise in number of attacks on Muslims says officer

THERE has been a sharp rise in the number of attacks on Muslims, a senior officer in Britain’s biggest police force has said.

Commander Simon Letchford said abuse of Muslims may be more widespread than figures suggest as a result of under-
reporting, and the Metropolitan Police had stepped up security at some Islamic centres.

He said around eight Islamophobic incidents a day were taking place in London every day, up from the usual rate of a single daily incident.

Mr Letchford urged Londoners to “stand shoulder to shoulder” in response to the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

Mr Letchford added: “Clearly, this is a time for Londoners to come together after the tragic murder of Lee Rigby and we would encourage people to remain calm, to provide information to us on anybody who they believe is carrying out these criminal acts.”

He added: “We have put additional police resources outside a number of premises which we think are vulnerable. We will do everything we can both to protect premises but also to bring to justice those who break the law.”