YOU’RE NEXT
A sinister racist left a hoax bomb at the entrance of a Paisley mosque with a chilling note that read“you are next”in the wake of the London terror attacks.
Concerned members of Paisley Central Mosque, in Wellmeadow Street, alerted cops to a plastic bag containing two canisters taped together with wire and wood, which had been left on the steps.
The malicious stunt took place on Sunday night while people prayed inside.
The night before, seven people were killed in London when three attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then launched a knife attack in nearby Borough Market.
The mosque secretary, who has
asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals, told the Paisley Daily Express: “We were doing prayers so the mosque was quieter, there were around 20 people here.
“One of our members saw the bag. It was gas cans wrapped with wire and wood. The note on it said ‘You are next’.
“We went back inside and called the police.
“We’ve told members during Ramadan to not wait outside to stop this kind of thing happening.
“It’s the aftermath of what’s happened in London over the weekend. “It has an impact.” The mosque has been in the building for at least 25 years and members yesterday said nothing like this has ever happened before.
The chairman of Paisley Muslim Community Trust, which runs the mosque, added: “We have nothing to do with what’s happening in London and Manchester.
“These people are ill-minded, they are nothing to do with a community like ours.
“We support all the British communities and cultures to come together during this hard time.
“This is nothing to do with Islam. The mosque is open to everybody.
“Last year three or four Christian people used to have breakfast with us and we enjoyed it very much.
“We have an open door policy. Anybody who wants to come in will be made welcome.”
It was first feared that the canisters contained lighter fluid.
However, police yesterday revealed that the suspect package was in fact two cans of deodorant, which were wrapped up in the bag to look like an explosive device.
CCTV captured the moment a man, who police believe may have been responsible for the bomb hoax, walked up to the mosque’s entrance before taking a package out from under his jacket and ditching it.
Police are treating the incident as a malicious hoax and have appealed for anyone who spotted the suspect in the street or a nearby pub on Sunday.
Paisley Inspector Tracy Harkins said: “A suspicious package was reported to local police after being left on the steps at the entrance of Paisley Central Mosque between 6.30pm and 7pm on Sunday.
“Local officers responded quickly and the package was thoroughly investigated.
“Officers found it to contain two cans of deodorant, which presented no danger to the public.”
“Earlier in the night, at around 6pm, the suspect was seen talking to two men near to Craigielea Bar in Well Street.
“We would like these two men to come forward.”
She added: “I would ask the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local officers.”
Anyone who has any information about the suspect can reach police in Paisley on 101. (Adjacent to Kwik Save car park, Paisley Road West)