Anti-Muslim hate incidents soar in London
Incidents of anti-Muslim hate are soaring to record levels in London , with a six-fold increase in the last five years. Last year saw the highest number of annual reported incidents in London on record, at 1,909. The figure for the whole of 2026 is expected to be even higher, having already reached 1,031 by the end of June, according to the British Muslim helpline Tell Mama. The number of such…
Anti-Muslim hate crimes in London have surged to unprecedented levels, with a six-fold increase over the past five years, according to the British Muslim helpline Tell Mama. Last year, London recorded the highest number of annual incidents, totaling 1,909. The trend appears to continue, with 1,031 incidents already reported by the end of June, indicating a potentially even higher count for 2026.
This marks a more than doubling from 313 cases in 2021 to 818 in 2022. The helpline, which served as the government's official reporting service for 15 years, is urging law enforcement agencies to improve their recording and prosecution of these offenses. Iman Atta, Tell Mama's director, emphasized that the persistent rise in incidents suggests the crisis is not fleeting and may worsen further, demanding a firm response from public institutions.
The incidents encompass street harassment, xenophobic rhetoric, public intimidation during prayers, and attacks on Islamic institutions by far-right groups. Far-right extremist plots or planned attacks on mosques in London and other parts of the UK have also been on the rise. Last month, a 14-year-old boy was charged with "extreme right-wing terrorism" for plotting an attack on two London mosques, following the arrest of 12 individuals for a threat against an Islamic festival in Suffolk and another man for assault near a mosque in Leyton.
Most of the reported crimes occur in the Westminster borough, a key transit point for commuters. The helpline also called for stronger action from social media platforms and public bodies to combat online abuse. The UK is grappling with the growing issue of children becoming radicalized online, with at least 71% of children referred to the government's Prevent anti-terrorism program developing extremist behavior without a clear ideology.
The Children's Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, expressed concern that the current Prevent program might miss opportunities to intervene, citing that nearly 80% of referrals involving children are closed without progressing through the program. Children often display signs such as frequent discussions about weapons, admiration for attackers, or sharing violent content, according to the report.
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