Police have increased patrols in Oldham following an incident where a man reportedly asked for the locations of local mosques and stated he would return with his friends once he found them. The warning was issued by the Jamia Mohi ul Islam Siddiquia mosque, which urged locals to remain vigilant around places of worship.
Incident Details
According to the mosque, the interaction occurred near Bolton Street. A local resident reported that an individual had been asking for the locations of mosques and allegedly said he would come back with his friends. The mosque management shared a photograph of the individual with the police and advised community members to report any suspicious activity.
Community Response
The mosque's message stated: "Assalamu Alaikum, we have received information from a local resident regarding an individual who has been asking for the locations of local mosques and reportedly stated that he would be returning with his friends once he knew where they were." It added that the matter has been reported to the police, and photographs have been provided to authorities.
The message continued: "As a precaution, we kindly ask all members of the community and mosque committees, particularly those in the Bolton Street area, to remain vigilant around our places of worship. If you see any suspicious activity or have any relevant information, please report it to the police immediately and inform your local mosque management." The mosque emphasized not to approach or confront anyone based solely on the photograph.
Police Action
A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson said: "Our Neighbourhood Team are engaging with the local mosques and are increasing the patrolling in the area to provide reassurance to the community." No arrests have been made, and enquiries are ongoing. GMP has not confirmed any specific threats but is taking the report seriously.
