UK Mosque Attackers Injure Worshippers Leaving Prayers

Two separate attacks injured worshippers leaving mosques in the UK. One man was found guilty of setting two people on fire with petrol.
By Newsroom | Crime, United Kingdom |

Recent events reveal a disturbing pattern of violence targeting individuals associated with mosques in the United Kingdom. Reports indicate multiple assaults occurring shortly after prayer services, resulting in serious injuries and widespread unease within community spaces. The incidents suggest a potential rise in targeted hostility against worshippers.

Events Raise Alarm Among Muslim Communities

Two separate incidents involving attacks on men leaving mosques have been reported, leading to injuries and a sense of insecurity. One attack saw worshippers injured after being set alight, while another resulted in a stabbing outside a mosque. These occurrences follow closely on the heels of other assaults and a mosque being set ablaze, fueling concerns about the safety of Muslim communities.

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The documented events span from late 2023 to early 2024, highlighting a series of assaults on individuals connected to mosques.

  • October 2023: Mohammed Abbkr attacked two elderly men, Hashi Odowa and Mohammed Rayaz, setting them on fire with petrol after they left mosques in London and Birmingham. Both victims required hospital treatment, with Mr. Rayaz suffering life-changing injuries. Abbkr was later found guilty for these attacks.

  • November 2023: Abbkr was found guilty of setting the two men alight.

  • April 2024: Abbkr received a hospital order for setting Muslim worshippers on fire. Reports detail his actions, including pouring petrol and igniting it, with victims suffering significant burns.

  • Undated Incident (from Article 2): A British-Pakistani teenager was fatally stabbed outside Oldbury Jamia Masjid after Taraweeh prayers. While details on the perpetrator and legal outcomes are pending in this specific case, the incident underscores a broader trend of violence.

An additional report from October 2025 mentions a UK mosque being set ablaze with two people inside, with police investigating it as a suspected hate crime. However, further details regarding the perpetrators and consequences of this incident are not readily available.

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Evidence of Violence and Investigation

The assaults have been documented through witness accounts, police reports, and court proceedings.

  • Eyewitness Accounts: Victims and witnesses described being doused with petrol and set alight. One victim stated, "He just quickly threw something on me. He was targeting my face and then he poured the petrol from top down. He came in front of me and started to attack me." (Article 1, 6)

  • Legal Judgments: Mohammed Abbkr was found guilty of setting two elderly Muslim worshippers on fire. He admitted to the acts and faced sentencing. (Article 3, 6, 7)

  • Police Involvement: Law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in investigating these incidents, cordoning off areas, and gathering evidence. In the stabbing incident outside Oldbury Jamia Masjid, West Midlands Police confirmed they responded to reports of disorder. (Article 2)

  • Nature of Injuries: Victims in the arson attacks sustained serious burns, with one requiring extended hospitalization for life-changing injuries. (Article 3, 6) The stabbing incident tragically resulted in a fatality. (Article 2)

Attacks on Worshippers

Multiple reports detail assailants targeting individuals immediately after mosque prayers. The motivation behind these attacks appears to be a deliberate choice to strike when worshippers are most vulnerable, often as they are leaving the place of worship.

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Arson Attacks and Personal Recognition

In the cases involving Mohammed Abbkr, there's an indication of the attacker attempting to establish a connection or familiarity with his victims. During one encounter, Abbkr asked the victim, "if he remembered him." The victim stated he did not. (Article 7) This exchange, coupled with the targeted nature of the petrol-based attacks, suggests a possible personal grievance or a misguided attempt at instilling fear through perceived recognition.

Fatal Stabbing Outside Mosque

The stabbing outside Oldbury Jamia Masjid represents a different form of violence but occurs in a similar context – immediately after evening prayers. The description of "scenes of distress" as worshippers left the mosque highlights the immediate impact of such violence on the community. The fact that this occurred during Taraweeh prayers, a particularly important congregational prayer during Ramadan, may amplify the sense of violation.

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Investigating Possible Hate Crimes

The severity and context of these attacks have led authorities to investigate them as potential hate crimes. The deliberate targeting of individuals associated with religious sites, particularly during times of prayer, raises serious questions about the underlying motives.

The Blazing Mosque Incident

The report of a UK mosque being set ablaze with individuals inside, labeled as a suspected hate crime by police, indicates a potentially broader pattern of anti-Muslim hostility. While specific details about the perpetrators of this particular incident remain undisclosed in the provided data, the act of setting a place of worship on fire is a direct assault on the community.

Community Impact and Fear

These incidents collectively contribute to an atmosphere of fear and anxiety within Muslim communities. The vulnerability of worshippers leaving services, whether through arson or stabbing, suggests a need for enhanced security and continued police vigilance.

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Conclusion and Unanswered Questions

The evidence points to a series of serious assaults occurring in the vicinity of mosques in the UK, resulting in severe injuries and at least one fatality. While legal proceedings have commenced for some, notably the arson attacks attributed to Mohammed Abbkr, other incidents, such as the stabbing outside Oldbury Jamia Masjid, appear to be under active investigation. The consistent targeting of individuals shortly after prayer services, combined with the police's consideration of hate crime in at least one instance, suggests a worrying trend.

Key questions remain regarding the full scope of these attacks, the specific motives behind each incident, and the ultimate resolution of all ongoing investigations. The persistence of such violence necessitates continued scrutiny and a thorough understanding of the factors contributing to these attacks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened to worshippers leaving mosques in the UK?
Between October 2023 and April 2024, two men were seriously injured after being set on fire with petrol by Mohammed Abbkr as they left mosques. Another teenager was fatally stabbed outside a mosque after evening prayers in early 2024.
Q: Who was Mohammed Abbkr and what happened to him?
Mohammed Abbkr was found guilty of attacking two elderly men by setting them on fire with petrol after they left mosques in London and Birmingham in October 2023. In April 2024, he received a hospital order.
Q: Was the stabbing outside Oldbury Jamia Masjid linked to the arson attacks?
The stabbing outside Oldbury Jamia Masjid, which resulted in a fatality, happened in early 2024 after Taraweeh prayers. Details on the perpetrator and legal outcomes are still pending, and it is being investigated separately from the arson attacks.
Q: Are these attacks being investigated as hate crimes?
Police are investigating the incidents as potential hate crimes due to the targeting of individuals associated with religious sites. A separate incident where a UK mosque was set ablaze with people inside in October 2025 is also being treated as a suspected hate crime.
Q: What injuries did the victims suffer?
The victims of the arson attacks suffered serious burns, with one experiencing life-changing injuries. The stabbing incident tragically resulted in a fatality.
Q: When did these attacks happen?
The documented attacks occurred between late 2023 and early 2024, with specific incidents in October 2023, November 2023, and April 2024, as well as an undated stabbing incident and a mosque fire in October 2025.