Hate crime probe after meat and flag left at mosque

Central Oxford Mosque said volunteers and the Imam had purified and cleaned the entrance

Meat, believed to be pork, and an Israeli flag left at the entrance of a mosque is being treated as a potential hate crime, police have said.

Thames Valley Police said the items were discovered at the entrance of the Central Oxford Mosque on Manzil Way in the early hours.

In a statement posted on social media, the mosque said the pork had been found on door handles and the flag attached to one of the building's doors.

The force has appealed for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward. The mosque remains open with police providing support to those affected and officers patrolling the area.

Ch Supt Ben Clark said: "This was a provocative act to upset and offend mosque users.

"Such behaviour has no place in our community and we will do everything in our powers to bring anybody involved to justice.

"An active investigation is ongoing with a number of lines of inquiry that are being progressed by detectives."

Central Oxford Mosque added that volunteers and the Imam had purified and cleaned the entrance.