Birmingham mosque stabbings 'not hate crime'

An attack at a mosque in which three men and a police officer were stabbed is thought to have happened after one worshipper turned on others, MP Liam Byrne has said.

The incident happened at around 11pm last night at the mosque in the Ward End area of Birmingham.

A male police constable was injured when he arrived at the scene after responding to reports that three men had been stabbed.

Speaking at the scene today, which has been placed under police cordon, Mr Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, said: “The community and the police have pulled together really quickly since the incident last night.

“What is already clear is that this was not a hate crime – this was a tragic, sad, and isolated incident.

“What’s really important now is that people stay very calm. We pray for those who’ve been hurt and rally round their families and we let justice now take its course.

“The police have somebody in custody and I think what we would want to say is that it’s been brilliant how police and the community came together to contain the incident last night.

“And above all, we want to praise the courage of West Midlands Police, they will do anything and everything to keep people safe in this community.”

Mr Byrne said it was his understanding that the man in police custody had been attending the mosque when the attack happened.

“What appears to have happened is that one worshipper turned on a number of other worshippers,” Mr Byrne said.

“The police were there really quickly to help make sure that everyone there was safe and people pulled together to contain the situation.”

A 32-year-old man is currently being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder, West Midlands Police said.

The four wounded men are described as being in a “stable” condition in hospital.

Local resident Madaser Hussain said the atmosphere in the community was unpleasant following the incident.

“There shouldn’t be any bloodshed on the streets or anywhere,” he said, “we should be one community, really.”

He said he did not know anything about an argument between worshippers but saw people running out of the mosque last night.

“All I heard was loud noises and people screaming,” he said.

“I live round here, I was walking and I went past and heard screams, as I was about to enter I saw people rushing out so I knew there was something wrong but I didn’t go in to see what had happened

“Men were running out and saying ’there’s been people stabbed inside there’.”