JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern over the action of a man carrying a terror axe for tarawih prayers inside the Manchester Central Mosque in the Victoria Park area, south of Manchester.
"I am concerned to hear of the incident at Manchester Central Mosque last night. I know this will be worrying for the Muslim community, especially during Ramadan, a time for peace and reflection," Starmer said, quoted by the Independent, Thursday, February 26.
"I would like to thank the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response," he continued.
Starmer emphasized that the British government has set aside a budget to increase security for Muslim communities in the UK who are often targets of Islamophobia.
"We have provided funding of up to £40 million for security improvements at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and will continue to act to ensure people can live without fear," Starmer said.
Manchester Central Mosque in its statement expressed the need for greater involvement from all aspects to suppress acts of terror against Muslim citizens in the UK, whose cases are frequent.
"The Muslim community in the UK has experienced a significant increase in threats and hostility in recent years. The increase in Islamophobic incidents is a serious problem, and greater resources are needed to address this growing and real risk," the statement reads.
The Manchester Central Mosque also appreciated the congregation for acting quickly in response to the attack so that no casualties occurred.
"The quick and responsible actions of our volunteers played a crucial role in controlling the situation. Without their intervention, the consequences could have been much more serious," the statement said.
The mosque in Manchester City also appealed to its congregation to increase vigilance and advised Muslims in the UK to travel in groups, and not to leave children unsupervised.
The terror of this masked man occurred on Tuesday, February 24 at around 20.40. The perpetrator did not carry out the action alone but with his partner a black man who is currently still being chased by officers.
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