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Police seek men after mosque damage 'hate crime'

Tess de la MareBBC News, West of England
News imageAvon and Somerset Police The image is divided in two. On the left, is a CCTV image of a tall man in a red coat, black hood, beige trousers and white trainers. He is white, has his hood up and is walking down a road. On the left is a black-and-white CCTV image of the same man next to another man in light coloured clothing and a puffer jacket. He has facial hair. Avon and Somerset Police
Police wish to speak to two men after a mosque's windows were smashed

Police are investigating after a Somerset mosque had its windows damaged in what they described as a "hate crime".

A number of windows at Taunton Central Mosque, in Tower Lane, were smashed on Saturday at about 06:40 BST.

Avon and Somerset Police has released images of two men they want to speak to in connection with the damage.

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos condemned the incident as "weak and cowardly" and said the perpetrators were "not welcome in our town". He said: "To those who smash up any part of our town - you will be caught, you will be punished with the full weight of the law and you deserve to be."

News imageAvon and Somerset Police Image shows the damage to a mosque window which has been smashed. Some of the glass has broken away from the window and the glass that remains has been cracked.Avon and Somerset Police
Some of the windows at the Taunton Central Mosque have been damaged

Amos added that he was "proud" to see such an "amazing" reaction from the community.

"When we're attacked, we all stick together," he said.

News imageSajjad Jabarkhel pictured outside a mosque in Taunton. He has short dark hair and facial hair. He is wearing a black collared shirt. He is looking at the camera and smiling with his hands behind his back.
Sajjad Jabarkhel said the community has been supportive, following the incident

Sajjad Jabarkhel, a resident who attends the mosque, said two people were present in the building at the time of the attack.

They heard the offenders smashing the windows but did not make it downstairs in time to see who had done it.

"Everybody's quite upset and it is disappointing. From a health and safety point of view, somebody could have got hurt," Mr Jabarkhel said.

"You look at it like the community you adore is being attacked. It's not nice, however it does not reflect the feelings across the whole of Taunton," he said.

Mr Jabarkhel said the community spirit was "strong" and the incident had brought people in the town "even closer together".

News imageThe outside of a mosque. There is a sign above the door reading "Taunton central masjid and Islamic centre" in capital letters. Below the sign there are dark brown double doors with patterned glass panels. One of the doors is boarded up as the glass has been smashed.
A glass panel on the door was smashed in the incident

One of the men who investigators wish to speak to is described as white, about 6ft (1.83m), between 20 to 30 years old and wearing a red coat and beige cargo trousers.

The second is described as white, short, between 20 and 30 years old, with a ginger beard, wearing a chequered red jacket, blue jeans and a white shirt.

Police said CCTV inquiries had been carried out and they planned to undertake further analysis of the scene.

Anyone who recognises the men or who may have relevant CCTV footage, or doorbell or dashcam footage is asked to contact the police.

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