Three arrested for racially aggravated offences following vigil organised by Exeter mosque
Categories: Latest News
Friday June 16 2017
Local paper Devon Live reports that three men were arrested for racially aggravated offences outside a mosque in Exeter on Saturday.
The alleged incident occurred at around 8.30pm on Saturday 10 June 2017, after a peace walk and vigil in Bedford Square, which had been arranged by Exeter Islamic Centre.
The march was organised in the wake of recent terrorist atrocities in Manchester and London. Supporters marched from the mosque at 6pm, with the vigil ending at 7:30pm. The event included the laying of flowers to remember those who lost their lives, with speakers including the Lord Mayor and representatives from the mosque and council.
Shortly after the vigil, three men attended the mosque and allegedly made racially aggravated verbally abusive comments to those inside.
Three men, aged 31, 26 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and subsequently released pending further inquiries.
Superintendent Sam de Reya of Devon and Cornwall Police said, “These allegations are extremely disappointing, especially after such an uplifting event such as the vigil and we will not tolerate such appalling incidents of hate crime in Devon and Cornwall.”
Anyone with information on the incident should contact police by email on [email protected] or call 101 quoting crime reference CR/045855/17. Members of the public can also provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.