Mosque in Rotterdam attacked, criminal complaint filed

The Islamic Foundation Netherlands said on Friday that six unidentified assailants attacked the Mevlana mosque in Rotterdam overnight, vandalizing a mosaic wall, throwing beer bottles at the building, and urinating on the facade before fleeing prior to the arrival of police officers.

Overnight assault on worship place

The incident occurred at approximately 22:40 GMT on Thursday, when the perpetrators targeted the mosque's exterior, damaging the mosaic wall and hurling beer bottles at the structure, according to a statement from the ISN. The attackers also urinated against the building's facade before leaving the area, the foundation noted.

Mosque officials contacted police repeatedly during the assault, but officers arrived only after the assailants had departed, the statement said. It added that worshippers feel increasingly threatened amid a rising number of attacks targeting Muslims and mosques across the country.

Official complaint filed

The ISN emphasized that police officers who responded to the scene did not consider the incident to constitute "a threat requiring direct intervention," an assessment the foundation said was difficult to understand given the nature of the attack. The delay in the police response has caused serious concern among the congregation, it added.

The foundation filed an official criminal complaint regarding the attack and requested that authorities treat the incident as a priority investigation. The statement underscored the importance of ensuring the safety of worshippers and protecting their right to practice their faith without fear under all circumstances.