More cash for mosque security amid fears New Zealand outrage stoked Islamophobia

MOSQUES are to share in a multimillion pound government cash injection to boost security after the New Zealand terror attack in which 50 people died.

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, announced cash to provide protective security at places of worship including mosques would double to £1.6million in the next year. He also pledged a new £5 million fund for security training after calls by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) for increased funding amid a rise in far-right attacks in England, some of which are alleged to have been inspired by the killings of worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand last week.

The MCB was backed by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, ex-conservative Party chairman, who said Islamophobia was the party’s “bigotry blindspot”. She contrasted the £14million committed by the Government to protect synagogues and Jewish schools with the £2.4million, three-year funds for other religions.

Mr Javid said: “The horrific events in New Zealand are a direct attack on the values of tolerance and freedom of worship that unite us all.

“Nobody should ever fear persecution of their faith and it’s vital we stand together to reject those who seek to spread hatred and divide us.” The Places of Worship Fund, established in 2016, provides financial support for physical protective security such as fencing, lighting and CCTV. More than a third of the annual £800,000 has been awarded to mosques.

The Home Secretary said he would simplify the bidding process so organisations no longer had to prove they had previously experienced a hate crime incident. Mr Javid also said he would open a consultation with Muslim and other faith groups on ways to improve current Government policies to protect religious communities.

The MCB said the extra money was a welcome first step, but added: “British Muslim communities may still question why the funding is not proportionate to the risks they face, given the Home Office’s own figures last year showing that over half of religious hate crime is targeted at Muslims.”

Yesterday security minister Ben Wallace warned that the rise of farright extremists online could see a New Zealand-style attack happen in the UK.

More than 350 leading Islamic figures from countries including the UK, the US and South Africa published a letter linking the actions of the New Zealand killer Brenton Tarrant to an atmosphere of “systemic and institutionalised Islamophobia”.