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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hate crime probe after meat and flag left at Oxford mosque | Hate crime probe after meat and flag left at Oxford mosque |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Central Oxford Mosque said volunteers and the Imam had purified and cleaned the entrance | Central Oxford Mosque said volunteers and the Imam had purified and cleaned the entrance |
| Meat, believed to be pork, and an Israeli flag left at the entrance of a mosque is being treated as a potential hate crime, police have said. | Meat, believed to be pork, and an Israeli flag left at the entrance of a mosque is being treated as a potential hate crime, police have said. |
| Thames Valley Police said the items were discovered at the entrance of the Central Oxford Mosque on Manzil Way in the early hours. | Thames Valley Police said the items were discovered at the entrance of the Central Oxford Mosque on Manzil Way in the early hours. |
| In a statement posted on social media, the mosque said the pork had been found on door handles and the flag attached to one of the building's doors. | In a statement posted on social media, the mosque said the pork had been found on door handles and the flag attached to one of the building's doors. |
| The force has appealed for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward. The mosque remains open with police providing support to those affected and officers patrolling the area. | The force has appealed for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward. The mosque remains open with police providing support to those affected and officers patrolling the area. |
| Ch Supt Ben Clark said: "This was a provocative act to upset and offend mosque users. | Ch Supt Ben Clark said: "This was a provocative act to upset and offend mosque users. |
| "Such behaviour has no place in our community and we will do everything in our powers to bring anybody involved to justice. | "Such behaviour has no place in our community and we will do everything in our powers to bring anybody involved to justice. |
| "An active investigation is ongoing with a number of lines of inquiry that are being progressed by detectives." | "An active investigation is ongoing with a number of lines of inquiry that are being progressed by detectives." |
| Central Oxford Mosque added that volunteers and the Imam had purified and cleaned the entrance. | Central Oxford Mosque added that volunteers and the Imam had purified and cleaned the entrance. |
| 'Dangerous climate' | |
| Ian Mckendrick, chair of Oxford Stand Up To Racism, called it a "despicable and cowardly attack designed to intimidate Muslim members of Oxford's diverse community". | |
| The group has called a vigil at 17:30 BST on Wednesday on Manzil Way green to show solidarity with the Muslim community. | |
| He added: "We hope the vigil will help counter the fear generated and show we are prepared to stand against attempts to terrorise members of our community." | |
| He also criticised the "racist rhetoric" of some politicians which he said was creating an "increasingly racist and dangerous climate". | |
| You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. | You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. |