07 September 2015

Islamophobic crime in London 'up by 70%'

Figures for the 12 months up to July showed 816 Islamophobic crimes, compared with 478 for the previous 12-month period.

Tell MAMA, an organisation that monitors Islamophobic attacks, claimed women were the primary targets.

The group told Inside Out London women wearing a face veil were victims of more "aggressive incidents".

The Met define Islamophobic crime as any offence intended to affect those known or perceived to be Muslim. Reported incidents ranged from cyber-bullying and assaults to extreme violence.

One of the highest increases was in Merton, south west London, which saw a rise from eight incidents in the year to July 2014 up to 29 in the subsequent 12-month period - an increase of 263%. [BBC] Read more