Four mosques in Birmingham attacked overnight

Four mosques in Birmingham attacked overnight

Four mosques in the central English city of Birmingham have been attacked overnight, with a man wielding a sledgehammer seen smashing windows at two places of worship.

According to West Midlands Police, officers were first alerted in the early hours today to reports of a man smashing windows at one of the places of worship.

Following reports of a similar attack at another mosque in a nearby neighbourhood, officers launched targeted patrols and discovered further damage at two other sites.

British national police chiefs last week announced officers are providing "reassurance patrols" around mosques in the immediate aftermath of Friday's deadly gun rampage in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, anti-racism groups have warned Islamophobia is on the rise in Britain and spurring a spike in far-right activity in the country.