Extra patrols at Peterborough mosques after car ploughs into pedestrians outside London mosque

On Facebook Cambridgeshire police said patrols had been stepped up around the Burton Street Mosque last night (Wednesday) after three people were injured when a car ploughed into pedestrians outside the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini centre in Brent, London at 12.30am on Wednesday.

Today Police confirmed patrols had been increased around all mosques and Islamic Centres in the city

The spokesman said: "The patrols are not exclusive to Burton Street therefore officers will be in patrol in the all areas around Mosques/Islamic Centres to increase reassurance and speak to members of the community around any concerns they have following the incident in London."

Salim Rehmatullah, chairman of the Burton Street Mosque said: "We were aware of the police patrolling Burton. It was nice of them to give our community reassurance as the London incidents got some people worried."

Abdul Choudhuri, chairman of the Faizan E Madina Mosque in Gladstone Street, said: "These few days are special religious events for Muslims particularly for Shi’a Muslims as Martyrdom for Imam Hussain and his companions - and as precaution police may have put extra patrolling near Burton Street Mosque.

"There is always concern when there are incidents of Islamophobic nature but we should not be alarmed. Despite increase in hate crime Peterbrough still have better community relations than other places in UK and we should be proud of it ."

The incident in London is not being treated as an act of terror, but The Met Police said: "The hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor."

The Met Police said: "Police have established that at approximately 00:20hrs security at the community centre were informed of occupants in a car behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs.

"The occupants of the car - three males and a woman all aged in their mid-twenties - were asked to leave the private car park.

"The car then drove near the centre and the occupants were involved in a confrontation with a large group of people visiting the centre.

"Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car.

"The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre. It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left."

The police spokesman said two people were taken to hospital for treatment; two of those injured are males in their twenties. Their injuries are minor. One did not require hospital treatment.

A man in his fifties remains in hospital and is being treated for a serious leg injury.