I’m a Muslim Living in the UK. I Was Leaving the Mosque After Prayers When I Got the Biggest Surprise of My Life

A 42-year-old white man has been arrested after a Muslim worshipper was allegedly attacked outside a mosque in Leyton, East London, in an incident that police are treating as a racially aggravated hate crime. The attack has left many members of the local community frightened and deeply concerned, with extra police patrols now taking place in the area.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Leyton High Road in Waltham Forest at around 10pm on Tuesday following reports that a man had been assaulted and racially abused outside the Noor Ul Islam Mosque shortly after evening prayers.

According to the mosque, CCTV footage appears to show a Muslim man in his 50s being randomly targeted as he left the mosque. Witnesses said the suspect had allegedly been shouting anti-Muslim and racist abuse outside the building before the assault took place.

Videos shared on social media after the incident showed the suspect with a bloodied face. Reports from the scene claim that after the alleged attack, some local Muslims confronted him, leaving him injured before police arrived. The suspect later suffered a head injury and remains in hospital under police guard after being arrested.

Officers confirmed that the victim, a man in his 50s, was found at the scene with injuries to his head after allegedly being assaulted and racially abused. He was taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed that his injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing. He has since been discharged and is now recovering.

Aslam Hansa, operations manager at Noor Ul Islam Mosque, said CCTV footage showed the suspect leaving the area after the initial confrontation before returning carrying a white bag that appeared to contain something heavy. He said members of the congregation were left shocked by what happened and questioned whether the incident was carried out by a lone individual or whether it could have been part of a wider attempt to target Muslims.

Hansa said the mosque has served the local community peacefully for 35 years and has always maintained good relationships with people of all backgrounds. He added that the incident has created fear among worshippers and parents whose children attend the mosque’s pre-school, with many now worried about their safety.

In a statement, the Board of Trustees of Noor Ul Islam Mosque condemned what it described as a targeted racist and Islamophobic attack. They said a member of their congregation had been subjected to racist abuse before being violently assaulted outside the mosque.

The trustees thanked emergency services for their quick response and praised members of the wider community who had shown support following the incident. They stressed that while the attack had deeply shaken worshippers, they would not allow hatred and fear to divide the community. The mosque said it is continuing to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to help protect worshippers and encouraged everyone to remain vigilant while standing together against all forms of hatred and discrimination.

The Muslim Council of Britain also strongly condemned the attack, describing it as deeply disturbing. The organisation praised local worshippers who intervened to stop the alleged attacker from causing further harm before police arrived.

Mustafa Al-Dabbagh, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said attacks targeting British Muslims are becoming increasingly common and warned that many hate crimes still go unreported. He called on politicians, police forces and the wider public to treat religiously and racially motivated crimes with the seriousness they deserve, saying stronger action is needed to ensure offenders face justice and to protect communities from hate-fuelled violence.

Calvin Bailey, the MP for Leyton and Wanstead, also responded to the incident, describing it as deeply distressing. He said there was currently no indication of any ongoing threat to the local community following the arrest of the suspect. Bailey added that hatred has no place in Leyton and Wanstead and said an attack on someone because of their religion is an attack on the values of the whole community.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that detectives are continuing to investigate the incident as a racially aggravated hate crime. Officers said they have increased patrols around the mosque and surrounding neighbourhood to reassure residents and prevent further incidents. Police added that they take reports of racially motivated hate crime extremely seriously and are committed to identifying and prosecuting anyone responsible for offences of this nature.