Man charged after Birmingham mosques attacked

A man has been charged with religiously aggravated criminal damage after a series of attacks on Birmingham mosques.

Arman Rezazadeh, 34, from Greenhill Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, was detained under the Mental Health Act, but has now been deemed fit to charge, West Midlands Police said.

Windows were smashed at five mosques on March 20th and March 21st:

• Witton Islamic Centre on Witton Road, Aston

• Masjid Madrassa Faizul Islam on The Broadway, Perry Barr

• The Al-Habib Trust on Birchfield Road, Aston

• Jamia Masjid Ghausia on Albert Road, Aston and

• Jam-E-Masjid Qiblah Hadhrat Sahib Gulhar Shareef on Slade Road, Erdington

Officers received reports of vandalism at Al-Habib Trust in Birchfield Road in Aston at 2.32am and then attended a second attack at the Ghousia Mosque in Slade Road, Erdington, at 3.14am.

Patrols then started in areas with mosques and police came across furtherdamage to Witton Islamic Centre in Witton Road, Aston, and Masjid Madrassa Faizal Islam on Broadway in Perry Barr.

At 10.04am, officers responded to a smashed window at Jamia Mosque on Albert Road, Aston, after pictures were circulated on social media.

Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe had described the attacks as "anabhorrent, despicable act that is clearly designed to create fear in ourcommunities who are actually cherished in Birmingham".

The force said it has conducted a thorough investigation and it continues towork in partnership with mosques around the West Midlands to offer reassurance to communities.<

Rezazadeh is due to appear before the city's magistrates' court on September 12.