Manchester Islamic Centre and Didsbury Mosque Trustee, Fawaz Al Haffar, addresses members of the media outside of Didsbury Mosque in Didsbury, Manchester, northwest England, on May 24, 2017, as investigations continue into the May 22 terror attack at the Manchester Arena. Police on Tuesday named Salman Abedi — reportedly British-born of Libyan descent — as the suspect behind a suicide bombing that ripped into young fans at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena, as the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the carnage. Abedi’s family are reported to have had links to the Didsbury Mosque, a Victorian former Methodist chapel in a leafy suburb that was bought in 1967 by donors from the Syrian community. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
A Didsbury Mosque Says Muslims Have Been Victims Of Hate Crimes
Manchester Islamic Centre and Didsbury Mosque Trustee, Fawaz Al Haffar, addresses members of the media outside of Didsbury Mosque in Didsbury, Manchester, northwest England, on May 24, 2017, as investigations continue into the May 22 terror attack at the Manchester Arena. Police on Tuesday named Salman Abedi — reportedly British-born of Libyan descent — as the suspect behind a suicide bombing that ripped into young fans at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena, as the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the carnage. Abedi’s family are reported to have had links to the Didsbury Mosque, a Victorian former Methodist chapel in a leafy suburb that was bought in 1967 by donors from the Syrian community. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Read original article by Kirstie McCrum on the Lovin Manchester or read a quick summary below;
- Mr Al Haffar gave an impassioned speech to reporters outside the Burton Road mosque where he expressed his community’s sorrow at the atrocity which took place in the city on Monday.
- “We are concerned about reports we are receiving about anti-Muslim acts, these are terrible, ranging from verbal abuse to acts of criminal damage to mosques in and outside the area.” he told the crowded press area.
- Muslims have been subjected to verbal abuse and even property damage since the Manchester Arena bombing took place on Monday night according to Fawaz Al Haffar, a trustee of Manchester Islamic Centre and Didsbury Mosque.
- Didsbury Mosque, which has found itself at the centre of the Manchester Arena investigation thanks to press reports, says that the bomber as named by police never worked there. Mr Al Haffar said “This bomber has never worked in this centre. We express concern that a small section of the media are manufacturing stories and making unfounded points without any verification, context or corroboration.”
- Mr Al Haffar added that the Manchester Islamic Centre thanked the police and the emergency services as well as ordinary people of all ages who “provided assistance in the immediate aftermath of this atrocity”.
