Incident outside York mosque
A man has been arrested after a shot was fired outside York Mosque and Islamic Centre in the early hours of Thursday morning. The incident on Bull Lane occurred shortly before 2:30am, prompting the mosque to close as a precaution.
Suspect arrested
Police said the suspect fled the scene in a silver car. A 44-year-old white British man was arrested soon after. The weapon involved is believed to be an air gun. No one was injured, and an investigation is ongoing.
Police response
North Yorkshire Police stated: 'It is too early to say what may have been the motivation behind this disturbing incident, but our Muslim community in York can be reassured that we are doing everything we can to establish the full circumstances.' Officers will patrol the area during prayer times and meet with the imam.
Mosque statement
Mohamad Douba, president of York Mosque and Islamic Centre, confirmed the closure and said: 'We are aware of the concerns within our community... Alhamdulillah, no one has been harmed and the situation is being managed with the support of the police.' He added that a mosque member heard what sounded like a shooting and alerted authorities: 'We would like to thank our brave member of the community for their quick thinking.'
Appeal for information
Anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, or information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police or Crimestoppers. Douba urged the public not to speculate and to allow the police to investigate.
