Attacks on Muslims in London tripled in weeks following Paris attacks
The Met recorded an increase of almost 47 per cent in Islamophobia offences in the past two years
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The number of Muslims attacked in London has more than tripled since the Paris atrocities.
Figures released by London’s Metropolitan Police show in the week prior to the 13 November attack on the French capital 24 Islamophobic incidents were recorded.
Two weeks after the French attack the number rose to 76.
“It is with regret, but something that we have come to realise, through experience, that hate crime can increase during these difficult times,” A Met spokesperson told The Independent.
The figures release comes just days after Finsbury Park Mosque was targeted in a suspected arson attacked. CCTV has been released a man the Met would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
Overall, the Met recorded an increase of almost 47 per cent in Islamophobia offences in the past two years. There were 845 Islamaphobic incidents in London in the 12-month period up to October 2015 compared to 576 in the same period the year before.
The Met spokesperson continued that many of the incidents related to instances of harassment, and said the dramatic increase was “down to a range of factors”.
In a statement they added there was a “growing willingness of victims to report hate crime, an improved awareness of staff in identifying these offences; and work with partners to support victims.
“World events can also contribute to a rise in hate crime.”