JURIST - Paper Chase: UK Muslim groups say hate, faith crimes up since London bombings

[JURIST] The UK-based Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) [MSF Community Update] said Thursday that Muslim groups are reporting that attacks on religious minorities and Asians have grown over 500 percent since the London bombings on July 7 and July 21 [JURIST reports]. Over 230 religious crimes have been reported to London police since the bombings and an MSF spokesperson said the group is hearing "a lot of concerns and fears, particularly from women." The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) [advocacy website], which warned British Muslims not to travel or go out unless necessay [JURIST report] in the immediate aftermath of the first attacks, said its calls have also increased to 100 cases per week from the usual five or six. Meanwhile, London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair [official profile] said the crime level is actually low [JURIST report] for a city of London's size. Blair said the daily reports of racist activity before the bombings averaged 40 calls, and immediately after the July 21 bombing the number was 65 which dropped to below 30 calls on Wednesday. Reuters has more.

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