The British Muslim Trust says one UK mosque is attacked every five days, with more than 70 mosque attacks recorded over the past year including intimidation, violence, property damage, harassment, hate speech, online abuse and vandalism. The trust named London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands as the top three hotspots; there have been nine separate mosque attacks in London and one mosque in Birmingham suffered three attacks in the last 12 months. Home Office data shows anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales rose by 19 percent in the 12 months to March 2025. Akeela Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, warned momentum on attacks is building and urged an urgent government response. The government has pledged up to £40 million for a protective security for mosques scheme covering CCTV, alarms, fencing and security services, but the trust says the scheme is hard to access, with some mosques waiting up to 18 months for funding and others denied without explanation. The trust and Ahmed criticised application requirements as a barrier and recommended devolving the fund and speeding delivery so mosques can secure premises and reduce vulnerability. A joint study by the British Muslim Trust and British Future found one in six Britons view Muslim population growth as a foundational threat to UK culture, underscoring concerns about normalised hostile attitudes.
