Nervous mosque leaders are hiring security guards and installing CCTV cameras to protect worshippers from a backlash against terror attacks.

The Muslim Council of Britain yesterday cited the “growing anti-Muslim atmosphere” for the beefing up of security, saying there were concerns that ordinary Muslims were being targeted because of the actions of extremists.

The council said that there had been a surge in violent attacks on mosques and imams. On Friday a 58-year-old imam was punched several times in the face by a visitor to the Regents Park mosque, known as the Islamic Cultural Centre, in Central London. He suffered heavy blood loss and injuries to both eyes and had to undergo emergency surgery. The previous Friday a fire damaged a mosque in Bradford just before prayers. The fire is being treated as suspicious.

Inayat Bunglawala, the assistant secretary-general of the council, said that there was a “real sense of concern and even fear” among Muslims.

“It is a growing problem. Clearly some people are trying to find a scapegoat for the recent terror attacks we’ve seen,” he said. “The very word Muslim seems to be associated with violence and terror.”

Muslim leaders said that attacks by an intolerant minority were putting their community on edge.

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, the chairman of the Inter-Faith Relations Committee, said that he was shocked when fearful worshippers asked him at the weekend to install security guards at the Leicester mosque where he acts as imam. “Deep inside there is a degree of fear, a degree of uncertainty,” he said. “But then [with security guards] the place of worship ceases to be that free place where everybody comes to be peaceful.”

Shaykh Mogra said that CCTV cameras had been installed at his mosque and “hundreds of others”. He was also aware that several mosques, while not resorting to hiring security guards, had enlisted volunteers to “keep an eye on things” when worshippers were praying.

Mr Bunglawala said that the Islamic Cultural Centre was one of many large mosques that employed security guards. “We are seeing more mosques trying to beef up security and liaise with police on how to prevent attacks,” he said.

Abdulkadir Barkatulla, the former mufti of a mosque in North Finchley, North London, said that a “centre manager” had been appointed there in the light of security concerns. “He was chosen as a caretaker, who could also defend physically if needed,” he said.

Shaykh Mogra said that the recent failed terror attacks in London and Glasgow had “definitely put a strain on relations” between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

He emphasised that in most parts of Britain Muslims were “embraced and the peace has held”.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed yesterday that a 40-year-old man had been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and assaulting a police officer in relation to last Friday’s attack. The imam is recovering in hospital.

A spokeswoman for the government department responsible for race and community relations said: “Any crime motivated by a prejudice against a person’s race or religion is deplorable and we are committed to doing all we can to support the police in this matter.”

— Racially motivated incidents in Scotland have increased since the attempted terror attack on Glasgow airport (David Lister writes). The biggest rise in reported incidents occurred in the Glasgow area, where Strathclyde Police recorded 258 racially motivated attacks in July, compared with 201 in June. Some 31 are believed to have been linked to the attempted bombing, although they ranged in severity from name-calling or insulting graffiti to violence and verbal threats.

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