Police launch hate crime probe following attack on Muslim schoolgirl

Police have said they are investigating a possible hate crime following reports a Muslim girl was attacked on her way home from school.

The assault is alleged to have taken place on Harvie Avenue in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, at about 4pm on Monday.

A statement from the Newton Mearns Islamic Centre said: “We understand that while a young Muslim schoolgirl was walking home from Eastwood High School, she was assaulted by a male and he also made threatening comments against Muslims.

“In collaboration with East Renfrewshire Muslim Forum, we have reached out to the family of the girl to offer our support.

“We have also contacted Police Scotland, local councillors/MP and the ERC (East Renfrewshire Council) director of education to ensure full effort is being made to investigate this incident and the individual concerned identified and brought to justice.”

The centre also expressed concern about a similar incident which took place on the same street last year.

“We are also concerned that a previous incident involving a 15-year-old girl took place on Harvie Avenue on July 16 2024, therefore we have also asked the relevant authorities to tell us what more can be done to protect school children and prevent any further incidents like this taking place,” the statement read.

“Furthermore, we need to make sure that Islamophobic incidents are treated as hate crimes and dealt with accordingly.”

The statement ended by calling on parents and members of the community to “be vigilant and report any incidents or suspicious behaviour to your nearest mosque”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers have received a report of a hate crime which happened near Harvie Avenue, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, around 4pm on Monday September 8.

“Inquiries are ongoing and officers will be carrying out increased patrols in the area.”