The University of Birmingham has been attacked with Islamophobic graffiti for the third time this year.
Police investigating the latest scrawls, discovered on Saturday morning (March 14), believe they are related to a previous incident of hate-fuelled vandalism at the Edgbaston campus in Edgbaston in January.
These incidents were also linked to racist graffiti found at the nearby Jahalabad Mosque in Selly Oak, also in January.
In the latest attacks the words ‘Kill Islam before it kills you’ were discovered sprayed on a storage box near sports pitches at the Edgbaston campus.
Another hate message – ‘Islam must die’ – was found on the wall of the Guild building.
The council immediately called a graffiti removal service to eradicate the blatant racism, but those who were unfortunate enough to see it, feel deeply offended and threatened.
Shanin Ashraf, who works as a Muslim chaplain the University, said: “I’m shocked and alarmed that this Islamophobic incident has taken place on more than one occasion.
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“It’s deeply disturbing and can be very unsettling for all of us at the university and the wider community. I hope we all come together to have zero tolerance against any bigotry and hatred.”
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “A member of university security staff alerted police to racist graffiti on campus at 7.20am this morning (March 14).
“This has been classed as a criminal damage hate crime and an investigation is underway to try and find those responsible.”
In the first incident, a swastika and the words “Islam must die” were daubed on the psychology block on campus and racist graffiti was also found at the Jahalabad mosque, Dartmouth Road, Selly Oak.
Soon after, the toilets at the university’s arts block were emblazoned with red writing saying ‘kill Islam before it kills you’.
A spokeswoman from the university said: “We unreservedly condemn the racist graffiti on campus. We are determined to find those responsible and have reported it to West Midlands Police and are working with them to identify those involved.
“Our University is a community of 150 nations and we are proud to be situated in a vibrant multi-cultural city.
“Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. We are therefore actively working with a range of groups to bring people together and ensure that our university is a place where diversity is celebrated and everyone plays their part in creating a vibrant and welcoming community.”
More than 150 students demonstrated against racist graffiti attacks at the university following the January spree, with some saying they felt too threatened to attend lectures.
