Cornwall's main Islamic community centre has been ram raided and vandalised in the night in what police are treating as racially aggravated criminal damage.
Hasan Kilic, the volunteer imam at the Cornwall Islamic Community Centre near Carnon Downs, outside of Truro, said he was called by a neighbour at 7am today (Friday, September 18) who told him the metal gate to the centre had been smashed up.
When he turned up a couple of hours later he discovered the wrought iron gate all mangled up and torn off its hinges but even more concerning he also found that a combustible substance had been poured over the grounds up to the entrance and splashed over the walls too.
The incident is understood to have taken place at 11.20pm last night (Thursday, September 17). Mr Kilic said CCTV at the centre shows two vans ramming the gate before two people came in and threw oil all over the place.
In a video posted on the centre's Facebook page, Mr Kilic said it "does not look like someone reversed into the gate but looks like vandalism".
Pointing at the black stains running down the garden leading to the main entrance, he added: "This is oil that's been spilt. Up the building as well. All the way up. This is pure vandalism. But fortunately they haven't been able to get into the property or they haven't tried. But I will call the police and inform the community."
It is the second time in 18 years that the Islamic Community Centre has been victim of potentially racially motivated attack.
In 2008, a pig's head was nailed to the door of the former Methodist chapel ahead of it being converted into an Asian community centre and Cornwall's only Mosque. It was also daubed with racist graffiti.
At the time, the late Inspector Mark Richards, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "The graffiti is offensive not only to Asians, Asian religions, but also to Christians and Cornish nationalists whose name is taken in vain.
"It is totally out of order."
Mr Kilic said the latest incident had been upsetting for the community but he said they have chosen to respond with "positivity and unity".
He told CornwallLive: "It has understandably been upsetting for our community, but we are choosing to respond with positivity and unity. We see this as an opportunity to bring people together, reach out to the wider community and build stronger relationships.
"Cornwall is a welcoming place, and we believe this was the actions of a small number of individuals. We will not allow the actions of one person or a small group to divide us or define our community.
"We will continue to open our doors, welcome people, pray together and contribute positively to Cornwall. If anything, this incident has reminded us of the importance of standing together and reaching out to others."
He added: "I will be delivering the sermon today (Friday is the main day of prayer for Muslims), and the message will be one of peace, patience, unity and hope. This incident will not scare or defeat our community. We will continue moving forward together."
Devon and Cornwall Police said they are investigating the incident as racially aggravated criminal damage.
Officers are keen to hear from anyone with information which can assist with the investigation, including details of any suspicious vehicles in the area.
Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley, police commander for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "Due to the location of the incident, we are treating it as racially aggravated criminal damage until such time as the evidence suggests otherwise.
"Such acts of mindless vandalism will not be welcomed in our communities. I would like to assure local residents that they can expect to see reassurance patrols being carried out today and over the weekend.
"I would urge anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area at the time, or who has any information that could assist the investigation, to contact us via 101 or our website quoting log no 169 of 18/9/26."
Cornwall Islamic Centre Ram Raided and Doused in Oil