Pig's head left for Leicester Muslim group
- Published
Two men and a woman have been arrested after a frozen pig's head was left outside a Leicester community centre being used by a Muslim group.
Police are treating the incident at Thurnby Lodge on Boxing Day as religiously motivated.
The centre in Thurncourt Road has been the focus of demonstrations since the Islamic charity said it hoped to use a former scout hut as a community centre.
Supt Mark Newcombe said police believe the head was left for the Muslim group.
A 40-year-old woman and two men, aged 37 and 46, were arrested on Friday.
'Hurtful act'
Supt Newcombe, of Leicestershire Police, said: "The only people using the community centre on Wednesday [Boxing Day] were from a local Muslim group.
"It's easy to draw the conclusion that the pig's head was meant for them, and is the reason we believe this to be religiously motivated.
"Since the incident was reported to us we have been working with the Muslim group to find out as much as we possibly can, along with carrying out CCTV and other inquiries."
He appealed to members of the public for information.
No decision has yet been announced by Leicester City Council over Islamic charity As-salaam Trust's plans for the nearby scout hut.
Mohammed Lockhat, from the trust, said members of the charity had found the head when they arrived for morning prayers.
"We are shocked and saddened by this development which is indeed a discriminating and hurtful act of religious intimidation," he said.
"We are working with the police and authorities to bring those responsible to justice.... in the meantime, we continue to work towards an amicable solution to the whole situation."