Muslim Council Urges UK Mosques to Conduct Lockdown Drills Amid Rising Hate

Hundreds of mosques across Britain are being urged to bolster security measures, including conducting lockdown drills, strengthening coordination with police, and expanding CCTV coverage, amid mounting fears of attacks and hostility targeting the Muslim community. The call is part of a new national security and preparedness framework issued by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). The organisation warned that mosques, community centres, and Muslim places of worship face a growing threat of vandalism, intimidation, threats, and deliberate acts of hostility. The guidance, aimed at mosque administrators, trustees, and volunteers, contains practical recommendations on responding to security incidents, including lockdown procedures, emergency response planning, incident reporting systems, and efforts to strengthen relationships with local authorities and police forces. The publication of the new guidelines follows a series of recent incidents targeting the Muslim community, including an attack on an imam’s home in Bolton. Concerns have also heightened following racially charged rioting in Belfast. The MCB has reminded nearly 500 affiliated mosques and community centres to remain vigilant against the possibility of a repeat of street violence this summer. Imams are also encouraged to use Friday sermons to convey messages of hope, unity, and resilience to their congregations. The heightened alert comes as the latest Home Office data reveals an increase in hate crimes for the first time in three years. Figures released in October showed a rise in racially and religiously motivated offences across England and Wales, where approximately 3.9 million people identify as Muslim. Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose from 2,690 to 3,199 cases in the 12 months to March 2025. In response, the MCB guidance outlines a three-stage security roadmap with targets set for three, 12, and 36 months. In the initial phase, mosques are advised to appoint a designated security officer, conduct on-site security assessments, identify areas not covered by CCTV, and establish clear lockdown and hold-and-secure procedures. The guidance identifies common vulnerabilities, including the absence of a dedicated security officer, weak police liaison, uncontrolled access points, poor lighting, and volunteers untrained in emergency response. Threats identified in the document range from graffiti and vandalism to arson attempts, harassment and intimidation at entrances, suspicious individuals loitering nearby, threats during busy prayer times, and bomb threats or suspicious packages. Beyond physical security, the MCB is urging mosques to build closer ties with neighbours, local councillors, local businesses, and interfaith groups, arguing that strong community relationships can facilitate a quicker and calmer response when incidents occur. MCB Secretary General Wajid Akhter said the community remains haunted by the spectre of past summer riots. As the anniversary of the 19 June 2017 Finsbury Park terror attack approaches, he said thoughts and prayers remain with the family of Makram Ali, the survivors, and all those affected. He described the attack as a stark reminder of what happens when toxic, unchecked Islamophobia is allowed to fester in society. Akhter said rhetoric demeaning ethnic minorities, immigrants, and Muslims in public discourse has directly heightened anxiety and a sense of vulnerability at the grassroots level. He cited recent disturbances in Southampton and Belfast, arguing that some British politicians and mainstream media, aided by algorithm-driven social media disinformation and foreign-based billionaires seeking to incite street violence, have seized on tragic knife crime incidents to reignite nationwide racist and Islamophobic riots reminiscent of the Southport disorder in summer 2024. An anonymous MCB survey conducted after the latest unrest in Northern Ireland revealed widespread fear among the Muslim community. One respondent living with her family in accommodation connected to a mosque described living in a constant state of fear and anxiety, worrying that the mosque would be attacked and set alight at night while her family slept upstairs, unable to escape in time.