Man with axe enters Manchester mosque during Ramadan prayers

Middle Eastern outlets stress the fear and anger among worshippers after a man entered a Manchester mosque with an axe during Ramadan prayers. Reports highlight Rishi Sunak’s expression of concern but say Muslim communities want concrete steps, such as more police presence and tougher action on anti-Muslim hate. Commentators argue that repeated threats to mosques in Europe and other Western countries show that governments must treat attacks on Muslim places of worship as a priority security issue.

• •Muslim groups in the UK are calling for dedicated funding to improve security at mosques after the Manchester incident.
• •Community leaders in Manchester have urged police to classify the axe intrusion as an Islamophobic attack if evidence supports that view.
• •Middle Eastern coverage links the Manchester case to earlier attacks on mosques in Europe and North America.
• •Rishi Sunak is portrayed as under pressure to show that his government protects Muslim worshippers as firmly as other religious groups.
• •Some commentators in the Middle East argue that Western countries have not done enough to tackle anti-Muslim hate that can lead to violence at mosques.