Mosque visits to help fight extremism

Dundee police have been in touch with city mosques in the wake of terror attacks in England, to encourage worshippers to report any concerns relating to extremism.

New temporary area commander Nicola Russell was unveiled to members of the public yesterday.

And she revealed preventing radicalisation will be at the forefront of her priorities.

As part of these efforts, police have asked all mosques in Dundee for advice and support.

Ms Russell said: “Yesterday (Tuesday), one of my locality inspectors was in touch with all of our mosques to provide reassurance and an updated community safety message around the horrendous events which have taken place. We’ll be providing reassurance and support patrols.

“The risk of radicalisation is a risk across the country and I think we would be naive to say in Scotland, or in Dundee, it won’t happen here.

“If there is a threat to anybody and someone is concerned about someone’s behaviour or actions, then they absolutely need to report it and then it will be dealt with appropriately.”

The secretary of the Tayside Islamic Centre described the men behind terror attacks in Manchester and London as “the dogs of hell”.

Qaiser Habib, secretary of the mosque on Dundee’s Victoria Road, insisted the “terrible acts” are “an affront to common values of decency and civilised behaviour”.