Vandals Continue To Target Muslim Academy

Police are trying to find out why vandals keep targeting a Muslim academy in Portsmouth.

The building in Old Commercial Road has had bricks and bottles thrown through the windows in the past two weeks.

Sometime overnight on Saturday, November 13, a brick with racist text printed on it was thrown through a side window.

Last Friday night (November 19), a beer bottle was thrown through a window at the front of the building.

Inspector Fiona Quade, Safer Neighbourhoods commander for the Fratton sector, said:

“We’re treating both instances of criminal damage as a hate crime because on at least one occasion the offence was directed towards the Muslim community and people that use the facilities.

“Hampshire Constabulary takes a very strong stance on dealing with hate crime; it won’t be tolerated and we’ll do everything in our power to bring to justice those responsible.

“My officers regularly conduct patrols in the area around Old Commercial Road, but if you saw what happened, could identify a suspect or know who did this, please get in touch.

“We’ve already got an investigation ongoing into the disorder at demonstrations outside the Jami Mosque on the previous weekend.

“That was an unusual event for Portsmouth and we are looking at any links with that and these incidents.”

Anyone with information about the criminal damage is asked to contact PC Trevor Peckham from the Targeted Patrol team at Cosham police station on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

If there's an issue in your community you’d like to speak to the police about, speak to a member of your local Safer Neighbourhoods team on 101 or find them at www.hampshire.police.uk