The East London Mosque in Bangalipara, one of Britain's largest mosques, was closed on Thursday due to bomb threats. Later, before seven in the evening, the mosque was opened after the inspection by the police.
It is the largest mosque of the Bangladeshi community in Britain. On Thursday (December 7), the mosque committee said in a statement that due to the inclement weather, the congregation of Maghrib prayers was not held in the mosque.
After going to the spot at 6 pm, it was seen that a large number of police had been deployed around the mosque.
An alleged "bomb threat" forced London's largest mosque to close and the evacuation of scores of people with a large police presence seen in the area.
In a statement on social media, the East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre said: "Due to an emergency, the Mosque has been evacuated and unfortunately we will not be able to facilitate Salatul Maghrib. Further update will be provided in due course, InshaAllah."
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the force was called at 3.02pm on Thursday (December 7) after a threatening email was sent to East London Mosque in Whitechapel.
He added: "Officers carried out a search of the area and the building was evacuated as a precaution."
The Met's spokesman said nothing suspicious was found so the incident was stood down just before 5pm, adding: "Further enquiries will take place."
In a post on social media, East London Mosque said it received a "credible threat" this afternoon, leading to "a swift and safe evacuation" under the instruction of local police officers.
[caption id="attachment_4092" align="alignleft" width="940"]
A view of East London Mosque where a 'credible' threat was received (Image: Getty)[/caption]
The Mosque added: "We thank and appreciate the prompt response of the MET Police. In these times of tension and heightened Islamophobia, we urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. In an emergency always dial 999. Thank you for your understanding and support."
Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has fuelled community tensions and triggered rising hostility in Britain, Europe and the US.
News of the evacuation in east London comes as ministers were warned British Muslims are looking to leave the UK because of the rising threat of Islamophobia.
Labour MP Naz Shah claimed that the Government's "unwillingness" to accept a widely recognised definition of Islamophobia was playing into concerns among the UK's Muslim community.
Conservative former minister Rehman Chishti meanwhile pressed the Government for more funding to assist Muslim communities with security threats.
Opening a debate on Islamophobia, Bradford West MP Ms Shah said: "Many are fearing for a future in Britain for their children, and those who can afford to do so are leaving Britain."
.svg)
.jpg)
