Police have charged a man after he allegedly drove his car into the gates of a mosque in Stockleigh, Queensland less than a day after the terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
[jwplayer 6pEyApkc]
A 23-year-old Browns Plains man was suspended from driving for 24 hours after allegedly testing positive for a roadside drug test on Saturday afternoon, Queensland police say.
Once released from police custody, they allege the man returned to his car and drove into the driveway of the Baitul Masroor Mosque, ramming the closed front gates and causing minor damage to it.
The man then allegedly shouted offensive words at the people inside before driving home.
There, police located the man and arrested him. He was charged with one count each of wilful damage, committing public nuisance, and driving a motor vehicle while suspended.
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said this is an isolated incident and reassured the Muslim community in Queensland “to go about their daily lives without fear.”
Regardless of motive, we recognise the incident caused and will cause distress. We will not tolerate any such behaviour and in this case have charged the alleged offender.
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) March 17, 2019
A spokesperson for the mosque told the Courier Mail that this was a “random incident.”
“Our mosque is not under lockdown. The Stockleigh mosque is not for us only,” they said.
“All activities continue as normal and the doors of the mosque are always open to all.”
