Attack outside Islamic Centre 'shakes community'

Dr Sarfaraz Jamali says he has lived in Jersey for more than 20 years and has not "come across this situation before" after an attack outside the island's Islamic Centre.

The leader of Jersey's Muslim community said the attack "did shake the community", but there had been a "positive response from police as well as from the wider community".

States of Jersey Police said the attack on two men, which officers said they believed to be racially motivated, happened on Aquila Road in St Helier at about 14:00 GMT on Friday.

A 36-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man have been arrested and charged over the incident and are due to appear at The Magistrate's Court on 1 April.

Police have committed to conducting reassurance patrols for the remainder of the Islamic month Ramadan, which is due to end on Wednesday 18 or Thursday 19 March depending on the sighting of the moon.

Jamali said he had been "reassured by the police" and he had been sent messages of support from the Methodist and Jewish communities.

He added: "I'm hoping and praying it was a one-off incident and it won't happen again."

Ahmad Khan, who has been going to the Islamic Centre for three years since moving to Jersey, said "it was very surprising for us especially in a place like Jersey" and "that is why we were anxious after what happened".

"In these difficult times, this support from police and other groups is what you need to hear," he added.

Anyone with information about the attack has been asked to contact police.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.