‘Someone is trying to disturb us’: In the wake of Wybourn’s mosque attacks

A Qur’an was found with bacon stuffed between its pages at Wybourn Islamic Centre in Sheffield in September. About six weeks later, another Qur’an was left at the mosque with a message threatening adult Muslims, prompting concern that the incidents were deliberate attempts to intimidate worshippers.

Sakhawat Ali, a 68-year-old locksmith who discovered both books while attending early morning prayers, initially thought the first incident might have been a bizarre act by someone who did not understand its impact. He now believes someone is trying to disturb the community; mosque members advised him to preserve the bacon as possible evidence, and police released CCTV images of a suspect or suspects.