Poland probes mosque attack, far-right protest

Polish police issued a public appeal for witnesses Monday after unknown attackers smashed windows at a Muslim cultural centre in the capital Warsaw, while prosecutors opened a probe into a farright protest in the south of the country over the weekend.

About a dozen windows were shattered overnight at the Muslim centre, which opened in 2015 and includes a mosque, a meeting centre, a shop and a restaurant. No one was hurt.

“I am 100 per cent sure this was a racist, anti-Muslim attack,” Muslim community leader imam Youssef Chadid told a news conference.

He blamed it on “not very friendly” atmosphere in Poland now that misrepresents Islam and appealed on the government to speak against attacks on Muslims.

“If the government says nothing on the issue, there will be no progress,” despite declarations of tolerance, Chadid said.

Warsaw police spokesman Mariusz Mrozek said security footage was being reviewed to help identify the culprits, and appealed for people who might have any information about the attack to come forward. At least two people are seen in the footage, Muslim leaders said.

Warsaw’s Muslim community is made up of about 22,000 people with two mosques, including the one at the centre that was attacked. About 500 people come to pray in the centre’s mosque, the leaders said.