Counter-terrorism police in the UK are investigating a suspected far-right extremist group after a threatening mail and suspicious packages were sent to mosques across the country.
Three mosques in London are the latest to receive malicious letters from the unknown individual or group as part of what a monitoring group believes is a "structured" transatlantic campaign, The Independent reported.
A letter seen by the newspaper threatened to bomb Forest Gate Mosque in London "very soon...when there are plenty of Muslims", while the sender told another mosque in east London they would "make you vermin pay" and a third letter received in Hackney called for the capital to be "cleansed".
Tell Mama (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), which records Islamophobic hate crimes in Britain, said the letters appeared to be part of the same campaign that targeted three other mosques in the UK last year and others in the US.
Steve Rose, who has been documenting the phenomenon for the charity, said three mosques in Tottenham, Leyton and Finsbury Park in London received envelopes scrawled with abuse and containing white powder in July last year.
"What was interesting was the relative proximity of these mosques. It seems whoever it is targeting geographic areas of London and might have targeted a mosque in Rotherham as well," he said.
The revelations came as it emerged that around 40 neo-Nazis are being investigated by UK police amid fears that they are plotting terrorist attacks against Muslims around the country.
The extremists are understood to be operating in "farright hotspots" predominantly in Yorkshire, including Leeds, Dewsbury and Batley in northern parts of England, 'The Sunday Times' quoted police intelligence sources familiar with the investigations as saying.
"The danger far-right extremists pose to national security is no different from Islamist terrorists," the source said.
The UK's North East Counter Terrorism Unit, which covers Yorkshire and is understood to be receiving tactical support from MI5 intelligence service, said: "Over the past year or so, there have been indications the threat from extreme right-wing [individuals] could be increasing...UK counterterrorism policing is alive to this."
The neo-Nazis being investigated are "proactively plotting" by familiarising themselves with Islamic institutions and community representatives.
This contrasts with those who carry out hate crimes against Muslims in response to Islamist terrorist attacks.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)