England: Safe containing donations stolen from Blackburn mosque

A safe containing donations was stolen from a mosque in Blackburn, a town in northwest England, in the county of Lancashire, police said.

The burglary occurred on Monday around 5:30 p.m. at the Masjid-e-Raza mosque, located on Alton Street. CCTV footage shows a man entering the place of worship after removing his shoes, before emerging with a wheelie bin containing the safe. According to the mosque, the chest contained charitable donations. No arrests have been made at this stage and police say they are working to identify the suspect. CCTV footage has been released to the public in order to advance the investigation.

Beyond the material damage, this act targets a place of worship and the solidarity it represents. Donations collected in mosques are generally intended for social actions or to help the most deprived, which gives this burglary a particularly shocking symbolic significance. The incident also recalls the persistent vulnerability of religious places, often open and accessible, and raises the question of their security without calling into question their vocation of welcome and trust.