Government allocates £66 million to mosques after Southport unrest fueled by false claims

Widespread disorder broke out in Southport after online rumors falsely identified the killer of three girls as a Muslim asylum seeker, leading to attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers across the country. In response, the government introduced an emergency security scheme that allocated almost £69 million to places of worship, with roughly £66 million earmarked for mosques and associated facilities, according to a freedom-of-information request.

The scheme, first established in 2016, has seen funding surge, reaching a record £41 million in the most recent year. Akeela Ahmed of the British Muslim Trust said the figures illustrate the growing security threat to Muslim communities, while Shaista Gohir of Muslim Women’s Network UK argued the response falls short of tackling anti-Muslim hostility, especially for women. Critics note that much of the money does not appear to reach the intended sites, underscoring concerns about the effectiveness of the funding.