(Image: Kevin Glenton)
City of York Council’s safer communities boss has said she hopes a shot being reportedly fired outside the city’s mosque is a “one-off, isolated incident and nothing more”.
Cllr Anna Perrett praised York Mosque for “bringing people together” after police were called to the alleged incident in the early hours of Thursday (July 30).
The mosque closed on Thursday morning but has since reopened after the police cordon was lifted.
North Yorkshire Police said a man was arrested after a shot was reportedly fired using an air rifle at about 2.20am.
No one has been injured after the alleged incident, the force said.
Cllr Anna Perrett, City of York Council's executive member for safer communities
(Image: Supplied)
Cllr Perret said it is an “unsettling for those who attend the mosque but my hope is this is a one-off, isolated incident and nothing more”.
“The mosque is more than just a place of worship but a community asset for the whole community, one that should be valued and celebrated for bringing people together,” she said.
Read more:
- LIVE: Arrest after 'shot fired' outside York Mosque - police cordon in place
- 'Once more under threat' - support pours in for York Mosque after alleged shot fire
- York Mosque president praises ‘brave’ member for phoning police after ‘shot fired’
York Central MP Rachael Maskell has called for people to "draw together as a community in light of this shocking incident".
Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central
(Image: UK Parliament/PA Wire)
She said she was “grateful to the police, as always, for all that they are doing to support the community and carry out their enquiries, and am currently liaising with them further on this situation”.
"My thoughts are with the York Mosque community at this time, and am so grateful to all in our city who have expressed their deep concern for them,” the MP added.
Police said a 44-year-old York man, described as a white UK national, was arrested following the alleged incident and remains in custody.