London news: Gang of 20 ‘mosque thugs’ attack peaceful worshippers at Hindu festival
Chaos erupted in London last week after a gang of Muslim youths attacked peaceful worshippers at a Hindu festival, leading to just one arrest.
The incident occurred on March 3 at an event celebrating the festival of Holi outside the Harrow Civic Centre, which lies directly opposite Harrow Central Mosque.
The event was organised by the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre (ISSC), with around 1,000 people in attendance.
However, organisers said chaos erupted just after 8.30pm when three teenagers – identified as being from the “mosque area” – turned up and switched off the event’s sound system.
Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, founder of the ISSC, said: “They chucked the speakers on the ground and ran away. The speakers are now broken, They came from the mosque area.”
He added: “Five minutes later they returned with 15 to 20 boys, some in balaclavas… they threw beers cans into the fire, threw glass bottles and hurled barriers on the ground.
“The Sikh security guard went over and they tried to harm him as well.
“They wanted to fight and we were trying to defend ourselves. It got out of control so we called the police.”
Around 1,000 people were in attendance for the Holi celebrations
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INTERNATIONAL SIDDHASHRAM SHAKTI CENTRE
The mob is said to have fled the scene after hearing police sirens approaching the area.
One of the youths was chased down and apprehended by the worshippers, who then handed him over to the police.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “A 14-year-old boy remains in police custody following an incident in Harrow.
“Police were called to reports of a disturbance at a civic centre in Station Road at around 8.50pm on Tuesday, March 3.
“Police arrived on scene within minutes and arrested the boy on suspicion of affray shortly after 9pm.
“No injuries were reported.”
Chaos erupted just after 8.30pm when three teenagers from the ‘mosque area’ turned up
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INSTAGRAM/INSIGHTUK2
Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East, said he was “appalled” by the incident.
He wrote on social media: “More than a thousand people attended the annual Holi celebration at the old Harrow Civic Centre car park, an event that has run for many years and is a joyful occasion for our whole community.
“What should have been a night of celebration was violently disrupted when thugs from the Central Mosque left the mosque and decided to disrupt proceedings.”
He had earlier told the Commons: “This is in Harrow where we have excellent community relations, and I hope this will not happen anywhere else or again.
“But the sad reality is community tensions are rising because of various different things across the world, and it is our responsibility as politicians to cool things down.”
Bob Blackman MP, pictured in India, said he was ‘appalled’ by the incident
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The Conservative MP added that he had “serious questions” for the Met over the force’s handling of the chaos.
He said: “Despite up to 20 attackers being present, only one arrest has been made.
“Even more troubling, the official police statement contradicts the accounts of organisers, victims, and every eyewitness on the ground, and refuses to acknowledge this as a targeted attack on a Hindu religious celebration.
“The Met must explain this contradiction and confirm that a full investigation is under way to bring all those responsible to justice.”
Harrow councillor Susan Hall added: “Not good enough! We have an incredible Hindu community in Harrow… Peace loving gentle folk. How dare they attack the Holi celebrations!”
