THE community has reacted with shock and disgust after a pig’s head was left impaled on a railing outside a mosque.

As reported, police received a report that a pig’s head had been left outside the Taiyabah Masjid mosque in Draycott Street, off Blackburn road over the weekend.

Officers were called to the scene at around 3.40am on Sunday and a hate crime investigation was launched.

People have been left appalled and disgusted at the act and have spoken out to criticise it.

Imteyaz Ali, secretary at the Bolton Council of Mosques, said: “To be honest, it is disgusting isn’t it?

“To insult an place of worship, doing something like putting a pigs head outside a mosque, why do these people do these things?

“These sort of crimes are not acceptable. I hope that those responsible can be brought to justice.

“Our community is disgusted by it. They feel very aggrieved. There is no place for it. The community are very upset about it.

“It is a cowardly act. This sort of act is not acceptable. All the community should come together and say no. Everyone needs to come together and say we will not tolerate this.

“These people may realise what they did is wrong.”

Mr Ali called for the whole of Bolton, not just the Muslim community to come together against these sort of crimes.

Cllr Derek Burrows, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for community safety echoed the sentiments.

He said: “It is not acceptable people doing that. At the end of the day I am sure the police will be working hard to catch the culprit or culprits.

“This is just a minority. We have extremely good interfaith relationships in Bolton."

Hate crime investigation after pig's head impaled on railings outside mosque 

The council's chief executive also condemned the incident.

Margaret Asquith said: "Hate crime is completely unacceptable and we are working with our partners across Bolton to reduce it. Hate crime has no place in Bolton, where we welcome people of all faiths and communities.

“We have offered our support to the mosque and to the police and will continue to work to bring communities together to celebrate our diversity and encourage tolerance and respect.”

No arrests have been made and police are continuing their enquiries into the incident.

Officers have been seen checking CCTV around the mosque.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote incident number 444 of August 27.