Southport mosque attack: imam fears arson amid violent riots
Imam expresses fear of arson while trapped in mosque during riots
An imam, trapped in a Southport mosque during violent riots, expressed his fear that the attackers might set the building on fire with him inside. Ibrahim Hussein said he couldn’t fathom why people were hurling abuse and missiles at the mosque. He feared the rioters would eventually break in and ignite the worship place.
The riots saw violent groups, many believed to be from outside Southport, throwing bricks, setting a police van on fire, and injuring 53 officers. This chaos erupted barely an hour after thousands gathered for a vigil to remember three young girls – Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine – who were killed in a knife attack.
“I thought they were gonna burn the place down.”
Speaking with Ibrahim Hussein, Chairman of Southport mosque after riots erupted outside of the religious building last night pic.twitter.com/l26nik9G9k
— Will Hollis (@willhollis_tv) July 31, 2024
Eight other children were also stabbed, with five in critical condition, along with two women who tried to save the children. A 17-year-old boy from Cardiff, residing in Banks, is in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. False online rumours that he was an asylum seeker seem to have fueled the riots.
Mr Hussein, ( Southport mosque ) who was trapped with around eight others, described the ordeal as ‘terrifying’ and ‘horrendous’. He escaped at midnight with police protection. He expressed gratitude to the police for their efforts despite facing severe attacks from the rioters.
When asked if he thought the far-right had taken over his town, Mr Hussein affirmed, noting that Southport had been a peaceful place for 30 years. He thanked the police for their support and wished they had clarified that the suspect in the killings was not Muslim, to prevent further misunderstandings.
Soyful Alam, a former imam at the mosque, acknowledged the nation’s anger and shock over the attack on the children but emphasized that targeting a community based on the perpetrator’s background is unjustified.
The Southport mosque remained open on Wednesday, with Mr Hussein praying for the whole of Southport, including the victims, police, and the wider community. He found the local response, with many bringing flowers and helping with repairs, humbling.
As a clean-up operation began, Southport residents gathered to repair the damaged Southport mosque wall, with police standing guard amid fears of further demonstrations. Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy assured that they were preparing for the possibility of more unrest.
During the riots, 53 officers were injured, and four protesters were arrested. Iman Atta from Tell Mama, an organisation monitoring Islamophobia, reported that they had identified far-right agitators spreading misinformation online and had notified the police.
Atta stressed the need for mutual support and collective action to challenge scapegoating narratives linking minorities to crime. She appreciated public support for Muslim communities during the crisis.
A Southport resident, Phoenix Lawson, started a GoFundMe campaign, raising nearly £1,000 to restore the Southport mosque. Lawson highlighted the shock and fear within the community following the stabbings and riots, noting the damage to the mosque and the unsafe environment for Muslims.
