Hate crimes against Muslims across the UK have been running at more than 10 times the usual rate.
Islamophobic hate crimes taking place across Britain have been running at more than 10 times the usual rate since this weekâ„¢s killing of a soldier in broad daylight in Woolwich, south east London.
Muslim leaders in Britain are accusing far-right fascist groups like the British National Party (BNP) and the English Defence League (EDL) for fueling racial hatred towards Islam, in an attempt to capitalize on the recent brutal killing of British soldier Lee Rigby.
Since the Woolwich killing, more than 140 Islamophobic hate crimes in just 48 hours were reported to a government-backed hotline.
The hate offenses included nine attacks on mosques, racial abuse, assaults and anti-Muslim graffiti.
A petrol bomb was also thrown at a mosque in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, during Friday prayers while violence was reported in Gillingham, Braintree, Bolton and Cambridge
BNP leader Nick Griffin, who is known for his anti-Islam views, incited widespread disgust after tweeting that the Woolwich suspects should be wrapped in Å“pig skin” and shot again.
The EDL has also said the killing proved that Britain is Å“at war” with Islamic extremism while the far-right group said it was preparing to stage riots in Newcastle on Saturday to disrupt plans to open an Islamic school.
Despite the Islamophobic surge, the heads of almost 100 British mosques said in an open letter that Muslims shared the Å“absolute horror” felt by the rest of Britainâ„¢s society at the murder committed Å“in the name of our religion”.
BGH/AMR/HE
This article originally appeared on: Press TV