LONDON – A new report has exposed an alarming escalation in attacks on mosques across the United Kingdom, revealing a sharp uptick in incidents over the summer months that experts link to rising ethno-nationalist rhetoric and high-profile campaigns. According to data from the British Muslim Trust (BMT), a government-appointed body monitoring Islamophobia, at least 27 verified attacks struck mosques between July 26 and October 31, 2025, affecting 25 buildings at 23 locations nationwide. This marks a dramatic increase from the preceding six months, during which publicly available records showed no more than four such incidents. The assaults, ranging from vandalism to attempted arson, have left British Muslim communities grappling with fear and a profound sense of alienation, as religious and national symbols are weaponized to signal exclusion.
The BMT's findings, detailed in a comprehensive report released on November 7, describe the period as a "nationwide surge" in anti-Muslim hate, with incidents intensifying in both frequency and severity. More than 40% of the attacks incorporated British or English flags, Christian crosses, or slogans like "Scots First" and "England for the English," transforming emblems of national pride into tools of intimidation. Over a quarter of the cases were classified as violent or destructive, including projectile assaults, smashed windows, and deliberate property damage. One particularly harrowing event in Merseyside involved an air gun shooting at a mosque's windows while children were inside praying, narrowly avoiding tragedy. In Greater Manchester, a paving slab shattered a window during evening services, while in Glasgow, a metal pole was used to batter doors and frames.
The temporal pattern is stark: a single verified attack in late July gave way to seven in August, nine in September, and another nine in October. Three mosques endured repeat targeting, with perpetrators returning to escalate their threats. The BMT notes a shift from opportunistic vandalism to "coordinated symbolic intimidation," where flags and crosses are planted on mosque grounds not just to deface but to assert territorial dominance. In Essex, for instance, a mosque was daubed with graffiti amid a broader wave of flag-raising that followed anti-asylum seeker protests. Eleven percent of incidents involved explicit hate signage, such as slurs or calls to "deport" worshippers.
This wave unfolds against a backdrop of broader anti-Muslim hostility. Official Home Office statistics for the year ending March 2025 recorded 3,199 anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales—a 19% rise from 2,690 the previous year, accounting for 44% of all religious hate offences. Independent monitors like Tell MAMA reported 913 cases between June and September alone, including 17 direct attacks on mosques and Islamic centres. The BMT's data aligns with these trends, suggesting underreporting remains rampant: victims often cite inadequate police follow-up or dismissive responses from online platforms, fostering a belief that such hatred is tacitly condoned.
Experts trace the surge to the intersection of two summer initiatives: the "Raise the Colours" campaign and the "Unite the Kingdom" rally. Launched in August 2025, Operation Raise the Colours urged widespread display of Union Jacks, St. George's Crosses, and other national flags to foster "unity." What began as a grassroots patriotism drive—sparked by local disputes over flag removals in Birmingham—quickly ballooned, with online groups raising over £14,000 for poles, ties, and banners. By September, flags adorned lampposts from Manchester to York, and roundabouts were painted in England colours. However, anti-racism watchdogs like Hope Not Hate identified far-right ties: co-founder Andrew Currien has links to the English Defence League and Britain First, which donated 75% of its flag stock to the effort. Critics, including academic Kehinde Andrews, argue the St. George's Cross has been co-opted as a "clear symbol of racism," evoking historical anti-immigrant sentiments.
Compounding this was the September 13 Unite the Kingdom rally in London, billed by organizers as a "free speech" gathering for national cohesion but drawing up to 150,000 attendees—the largest far-right event in decades. Led by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson), the march featured speeches from figures like Ben Habib of the far-right Advance UK party, who decried "indoctrination" and championed "constitutional Christian roots." Elon Musk joined via video, railing against "uncontrolled migration" and calling for Parliament's dissolution. French politician Éric Zemmour echoed "great replacement" theories, framing Muslims as colonizers. Clashes ensued: 26 officers were injured, bottles flew at police, and 23 arrests were made—far outpacing the one at the counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism. Attendees waved crosses and flags, mirroring mosque attack motifs.
The BMT report cautions against direct causation but highlights "striking temporal correlation," positing that these events normalized anti-Muslim behavior locally. "For many Muslims, these were not random acts but signals that their belonging in British society was being challenged because of their faith," it states. This echoes broader anxieties: a Runnymede Trust analysis blames political and media scapegoating for a "frightening intensification of Islamophobia." Post-riot data from summer 2024—triggered by the Southport stabbings—showed mosques in Hull, Sunderland, and Middlesbrough besieged, with riot police defending them amid disinformation.
BMT Chief Executive Akeela Ahmed, speaking to The Guardian, called the evidence "incontrovertible." "Anti-Muslim hate in Britain is rising in both visibility and severity—and mosques are being targeted on a staggering scale," she said. "The current crisis is intolerable and concerted sustained action is urgently needed." Ahmed, who recently reported being refused service in a shop due to her hijab—part of a pattern she links to normalized prejudice—emphasized the human toll: women avoiding public spaces, families shifting to online shopping out of fear. On X (formerly Twitter), Ahmed has urged reporting via the BMT helpline, underscoring transparent data as a tool for accountability.
In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced £10 million in emergency funding on October 24 for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, topping up £29.4 million already allocated. Visiting the arson-hit Peacehaven Mosque in East Sussex—where two men were charged after flames engulfed stairs while worshippers were inside—Starmer declared, "Attacks on any community are attacks on our nation." The funds will install CCTV, alarms, fencing, and hire guards at vulnerable sites. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed this, vowing increased patrols at mosques and synagogues amid parallel antisemitic spikes—the Community Security Trust logged 1,521 incidents in early 2025.
Yet the BMT warns of systemic gaps: delayed police protocols, fragmented authority coordination, and cumbersome funding access for worship places. Ahmed advocates streamlined processes and a national anti-Islamophobia strategy, including adopting a formal definition to guide responses. Over 40 MPs, led by Afzal Khan, recently pressed Housing Secretary Steve Reed on this, citing 45% of 2025 religious hate crimes targeting Muslims.
Community voices amplify the urgency. In Glasgow, MP Zubir Ahmed decried graffiti at a mosque he's attended since 1984 as a throwback to 1980s racism, affirming, "It's our country. We're not going anywhere." On X, users shared footage of the Peacehaven blaze and Essex vandalism, decrying selective outrage—why mosques but not the 150+ church arsons in five years? Others highlighted far-right precedents like the 2017 Finsbury Park van attack, countering narratives that downplay domestic extremism.
As winter sets in, the BMT pledges ongoing vigilance, urging platforms to curb hate amplification and authorities to prioritize prevention. "At the British Muslim Trust, we will continue to monitor hate and provide transparent, robust data—but that information must be acted upon," Ahmed concluded. For Britain's 3.9 million Muslims—integral to the NHS, public services, and economy—this surge tests the nation's inclusive fabric. Without bold intervention, the report warns, symbolic flags risk becoming harbingers of deeper division.
