One mosque is attacked every five days in Britain, latest figures reveal

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 23, 2026

An average of one mosque in the UK is attacked every five days, with over 70 incidents recorded in the past year including violence, vandalism, and hate speech. Despite government funding of up to £40 million for mosque security, delays and strict application requirements have hinder timely support, prompting calls from the British Muslim Trust for improved measures.

In the United Kingdom, an average of one mosque is attacked every five days, according to recently released data from a government-affiliated organization monitoring anti-Muslim hatred. Over the past year, more than 70 incidents targeting mosques have been recorded, encompassing a range of offenses such as intimidation, physical violence, property damage, harassment, hate speech, online abuse, and vandalism.

The British Muslim Trust has expressed concern that the frequency of these attacks is on the rise and is calling for an urgent government response. The data highlights London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands as the main regions affected, with London alone accounting for nine separate mosque attacks in the last 12 months. Additionally, one mosque in Birmingham has reportedly been targeted three times during the same period.

Home Office figures indicate that anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 19% in the 12 months ending in March 2025. Against this backdrop, Akeela Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, emphasized the need for the government to enhance support for mosques in protecting themselves from such attacks.

Earlier this year, the UK government announced a dedicated funding scheme aimed at improving security for mosques, allocating up to £40 million. The protective security for mosques scheme offers financial support for the installation of physical security measures, including CCTV systems, alarms, fencing, and the provision of security personnel.

Home Office guidance encourages mosques that have experienced hate crime or perceive themselves to be at risk to apply for security funding. The guidelines also consider hate crimes targeting other places of worship in the vicinity. However, applicants must provide robust evidence and clearly articulate the risk involved to have a chance of approval. The British Muslim Trust has criticized these requirements, describing them as significant barriers that hinder mosques from accessing essential support.

The trust further reported that many mosques face lengthy delays in receiving funding, with some waiting up to 18 months. It also noted that several applications are rejected without clear explanations. A spokesperson for the Home Office acknowledged the severity of religious hate crime faced by Muslims in the UK and stated that efforts are underway to expedite the processing of all funding applications.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.