Tipton mosque leaders call for unity and calm after suspected terror attack

The Kanz-ul-Iman Muslim Welfare Association Central Jamia Mosque in Binfield Street, Tipton, was believed to be the target of a suspected nail bomb on Friday afternoon.

Counter terrorism police, the army and bomb disposal teams swooped on Friday after residents heard a loud bang near the mosque.

The blast which resulted in nails and debris flying into nearby buildings, happened at around 1pm when there should have hundreds of people inside the mosque – but the first Friday prayers of Ramadan had been put back by an hour so there were just three people present at the site.

Around 40 families were evacuated from their homes near the scene, but were able to return by 9pm on Friday.

The mosque reopened at around 9pm last night with leaders reassuring the community the venue was safe to attend.

Chairman of the mosque Mushtaq Hussin said: "Muslims from the area have been using other mosques nearby, but there's nowhere like home," said Mr Hussin, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years.

"Everybody was really glad when we were able to reopen the mosque, and I'm really, really pleased.

"I want to reassure people that it is absolutely safe to come to the mosque.

"The whole incident was incredibly shocking, however. It's been very upsetting.

"I've lived in the area for more than 40 years and nothing like this has ever happened before. There's never been friction between anybody."

Secretary at the mosque Abdul Sattar, who lives just yards away from where the explosion took place, said that during the month of Ramadan Muslims must recite the Quran in full and the attack has left them days behind their schedule.

He said people in the area had stood united and that ahead of the mosque reopening many members were worshipping in their own homes or had gone to the Bangladeshi mosque nearby, instead to pray.

Sandwell's council leader Councillor Darren Cooper has now called on Prime Minister David Cameron to make a statement about the attack.

He said: "It doesn't appear they are taking the little town of Tipton very seriously as somewhere like the city of London which is disappointing."

On Saturday officers discovered what they believe could have been a small component part of the explosive device in a nearby garden. It is believed to have been found while forensic officers carried out detailed investigations in the immediate area near Binfield Street.

Army bomb disposal units were called to carry out a controlled explosion on it at around 5pm on Saturday evening.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Following ongoing forensic searches of the cordoned area, officers found what appears to be a potential small component part of the device in a back garden of one of the properties. For safety reasons, the item could not be moved, so specialist army bomb disposal officers had to carry out a small controlled explosion at the scene to make the item safe."

Three weeks ago a small home-made bomb exploded near Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre, in Rutter Street, Caldmore, in Walsall. This saw a total of 150 people evacuated from their homes.