After communal tensions flared up at UK's Leicester, involving youth from the Hindu and the Muslim communities, the police appealed for calm. "Community leaders from East Leicester are on the ground with officers. All are calling for calm and encouraging people to go home. Please avoid the area while our police operation continues," the Leicestershire Police tweeted.
The law enforcement denied viral social media claims that a mosque was attacked, and urged users to curb misinformation. "We have seen reports on social media that a mosque is being attacked. Officers on the ground have confirmed this is not true. Please only share information on social media you know to be true," the police claimed.
We've seen reports on social media that a mosque is being attacked. Officers on the ground have confirmed this is not true. Please only share information on social media you know to be true.
— Leicestershire Police (@leicspolice) September 17, 2022
The incidents had first sparked following clashes between fans following an India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match at the end of last month, and it had spilled over into “serious disorder”. The police said in a statement: "Officers became aware of groups of young men gathering on Sunday afternoon in the North Evington area of the city. Officers spoke to them and took steps, including putting in place a temporary police cordon, to minimise harm and disturbance to communities."
15 people have been reportedly detained.
The BBC reported that community leaders—including Sanjiv Patel, who represents Hindu and Jain temples across Leicester, and Suleman Nagdi, from the Leicester-based Federation of Muslim Organisations—called for peace and an immediate end to the violence.
