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'Terror attack' mosque reopens

A mosque in Tipton, West Midlands, where a suspected terrorist explosion was carried out has re-opened to worshippers, police said.

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Mosque attack 'had potential to do serious harm'

West Midlands Police have thanked community leaders as they continue to investigate an alleged terrorist attack on a mosque in Tipton.

This is a massive investigation being led by our Counter Terrorism Unit with many officers and experts all working to find the offender or offenders.

Our forensic teams will continue their detailed searches in and around the area, making sure that we uncover every piece of forensic evidence possible, particularly at the seat of the explosion.

I'd like to reiterate my thanks to the local residents for their patience during this difficult period from the families who had to be moved out of their homes through to the wider faith organisations have been extremely supportive throughout the investigation and continue to help our officers.

This was a terrible attack which had the potential to cause serious harm to lots of people.

– Assistant chief constable Marcus Beale, West Midlands Police

Mosque re-opens after suspected terrorist attack

Police cordon in Tipton on Friday after the blast near the local mosque Credit: Matthew Cooper/PA Wire

West Midlands Police say that the Kanzul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton has re-opened after it was the victim of a suspected terrorist attack on Friday.

Worshippers heard a blast which scattered nailed and metal fragments across the building. The mosque car park remains closed while officers continue to conduct fingertip searches to gather evidence.

Read: Terror probe after blast outside mosque

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Bomb disposal experts carry out controlled explosion

A controlled explosion has been carried out by bomb disposal experts after police found what they believe was a small component part of a bomb which exploded near to a mosque in the West Midlands yesterday.

It comes as religious and community leaders put on a united front at the scene in Tipton today.

They've been reassuring local people and say this act of terror has brought the community closer together as Karen Griggs reports.

Army bomb disposal officers tackle device

Police investigating a nail bomb attack at a mosque are carrying out a controlled explosion on part of the device, West Midlands Police said.

Following ongoing forensic searches of the cordoned area, officers have found what appears to be a potential small component part of the device in a back garden of one of the properties.

For safety reasons, the item cannot be moved, so specialist army bomb disposal officers will need to carry out a small controlled explosion at the scene to make the item safe.

The controlled explosion will take place between 4:30pm and 5:30pm hours today.

We would like to reassure local residents that the resulting bang will be due to the device being made safe.

– West Midlands Police spokesman

The Kanz Ul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton, West Midlands, was attacked yesterday afternoon but no one was injured.

Bomb disposal team to carry out controlled explosion

Detectives say they have found what appears to be a potential small component part of the device that exploded near to a Mosque in Tipton yesterday.

A controlled explosion is taking place in the next hour as police say the item cannot be moved.

The discovery was made in the garden of one of the properties within the police cordon.

Army bomb disposal officers will carry out a small controlled explosion as part of scene searches between 4.30pm and 5.30pm today.

Leaders call for calm over mosque nail bomb attack

Community leaders and police appealed for calm and unity after a nail bomb attack at a mosque.

Police launched a counter terrorism investigation after the explosion near the Kanz Ul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton, West Midlands, which officers said was designed to cause "serious harm".

As forensics investigators and detectives began to piece the puzzle together, police and religious leaders urged residents to stick together regardless of beliefs and backgrounds.

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Mosque blast was 'intended to cause serious harm'

Police have confirmed details of an explosion near a mosque in Tipton. The blast is understood to have centred on an embankment near a disused rail line running behind the Kanz Ul Iman Masjid mosque.

We can't say for definite the explosion was intended to damage the mosque but the most likely conclusion is it was intended to cause serious harm to people or property.

That leads us to have a working assumption, based on what we know now, that this is an act of terrorism.

We have a large number of experts and specialists working on this case and I'm confident we'll get to the bottom of exactly what happened.

We have officers visiting local mosques and other places of worship to offer reassurance...and the response from the mosque has been very supportive.

This is greatly helping our enquiries.

– Assistant Chief Constable Gary Cann

Mosque leaders condemn 'senseless' attack

The leaders of the mosque in Tipton which was the scene of a blast that police have called a terrorist incident have condemned the attack and urged the community to come together.

We jointly on behalf of the local community condemn this senseless and mindless act. It's a blessing from God that thankfully no-one was injured in the blast.

We call for calm and strongly urge the community not to let this incident divide us and cause disharmony. We stand united together in the aftermath of this mindless act.

– Statement from the Kanz Ul Iman Masjid Mosque
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