Controlled blast as mosque bomb part found in garden

The Kanz Ul Iman Masjid mosque was attacked yesterday afternoon but no one was injured.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Following ongoing forensic searches of the cordoned area, officers have 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 cannot be moved, so specialist army bomb disposal officers will need to carry out a small controlled explosion at the scene to make the item safe.

"We would like to reassure local residents that the resulting bang will be due to the device being made safe."

Community leaders and police also appealed for calm and unity.

ACC Marcus Beale: "We need your help to take a very dangerous individual off our streets."

Police launched a counter terrorism investigation after the explosion which officers said was designed to cause "serious harm".

As forensics investigators and detectives began to piece the puzzle together, police and religious leaders urged residents to stick together regardless of beliefs and backgrounds.

Ghulam Rasool, a local imam, implored community members not to let inter-faith relations be undermined.

Saying the incident would not change residents' attitudes or beliefs, he said everyone believed in shared values such as freedom of speech and religious expression.

"The people of Tipton and Sandwell will not succumb to disharmony," he said.

Chief superintendent Mark Robinson asked residents to remain patient and calm as officers conducted their investigation, which he warned would be lengthy.

He said members of the various faiths were determined to show solidarity.

"They are determined to carry on - it's business as usual," he said.

The remains of a home-made explosive device were found on June 22 in an alleyway adjoining the Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre in Rutter Street.

The earlier incident, in which no one was injured, forced the overnight evacuation of around 150 people from their homes in the surrounding area.

Speaking at the scene of the Tipton incident yesterday, Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Cann said he was unaware of any specific links to last month's blast in Walsall.

A combination of factors taken together had led officers to treat the incident as an act of terrorism, including the presence of nails and the location of the incident.

The senior officer said: "I can't say for certain that it was definitely directed at the mosque, but that seems to be the most likely explanation.

"For now, the working assumption, which could change, is that this was an act of terrorism."

Rob Abbey, 35, who lives a few hundred yards from the mosque, said the explosion sounded "very, very loud" but he had no idea what it was at the time.

Forensic scientists, together the British Transport Police, were examining local gardens and a nearby disused railway line.

The Kanzul Iman Masjid mosque is expected to remain closed until at least Sunday evening while the investigation continues.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said: "West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit is pouring all specialist resources into methodically examining the complicated scene, which covers an extensive area, to maximise the opportunity to find the tiniest pieces of evidence to bring to justice the perpetrator.

"The community has been fantastic on a number of levels - we've had warm support from the families affected, who have been forced out of their homes and we are grateful for that. The wider faith communities have also come together to show solidarity, very much giving the message that it's an attack on all of them and does not reflect the feelings of the local community.

"If anyone had happened to have been nearby at the time of the explosion it would have resulted in really horrible injuries. I would appeal to people, if you have the smallest piece of information that may help us find the perpetrators, please contact us. We will treat you with sensitivity and you may help take a very dangerous individual off the streets."

Mr Rasool added: "Yesterday a senseless act tried to divide us. Today, we respond united together and more determined to come out stronger in condemnation of extremism and in maintaining and further strengthening existing good community relations in the borough. For those who wish to divide us and fringe elements that may wish to exploit this situation we have this message.

"We are one borough, one community that remains united in defiance of extremism wherever it may come from; united in support of strong community and interfaith relations and united in our belief that this is a borough and country that values freedom of speech, expression and religious co-existence.

"Acts such as these will only strengthen our resolve and not break it.

"To the wider community we say this: let's continue to go about our lives not intimidated by fear or violence, not provoked by senseless acts of extremism or terrorism designed to undermine our borough's harmony and cohesion."