PLAISTOW, LONDON – The Masjid Ibrahim and Islamic Centre in East London is urging Newham Council to install steel bollards or safety barriers outside its building after a car crashed into the mosque earlier this week. The incident, which occurred on Barking Road in Plaistow, marks the fourth crash in the mosque’s vicinity since 2010, with two of those incidents causing significant damage.
During the latest crash, a car spun out of control, striking a parked vehicle before colliding with the mosque’s wall and gate. The impact caused the sliding gates outside the mosque to fall off, and the building’s wall was also damaged. A man involved in the crash was hospitalized and later arrested on suspicion of driving offenses.
Zulfiqar Ahmed, a volunteer who was inside the mosque at the time of the crash, expressed deep concern over the recurring accidents. He emphasized the urgent need for protective barriers to prevent future incidents, fearing that without them, the next crash could result in a fatality.
“To avoid a fatal accident, we need to push much harder with the local authority—they need to install safety barriers or steel bollards in front of the mosque, which is located on a bend,” Ahmed said. He added that reckless driving, often at high speeds late at night or early in the morning, contributes to the frequent loss of vehicle control at the bend where the mosque is situated.
Newham Council responded by stating that it is currently implementing a 20mph speed limit across the borough. However, mosque representatives believe that additional measures, such as steel bollards, are essential to ensure the safety of worshippers and passersby.
The mosque community continues to advocate for immediate action to prevent further damage and protect lives.