Anti-Muslim graffiti has been found daubed on seven London buildings this month, including mosques, community centres and a primary school.

The Metropolitan Police said it is investigating “several incidents of criminal damage” and is treating them as “shocking” hate crimes.

The first incident took place on Monday 6 January, with the most recent recorded on Saturday 25 January. The force is looking into whether they are linked, including examining CCTV footage.

The incidents are reported to have been fuelled by a Telegram hate group, which was offering £100 to people who committed acts of vandalism. The Met said its inquiries are continuing.

The force has stepped up reassurance patrols in the affected areas and is in contact with local faith leaders.

Here are the sites that were targeted and when:

• West Norwood Mosque, SE27, on Monday 6 January

• South Norwood Islamic Community Centre, Croydon, SE25, on Monday 6 January

• Thornton Heath Islamic Centre, CR7, on Thursday 16 January

• Stratford mosque, Newham, E15, on Thursday 23 January

• Leyton Jamia Masjid, E10, on Thursday 23 January

• Albirr Foundation mosque, E10, on Thursday 23 January

• Noor Ul Islam Primary School, E10, on Saturday 25 January

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‘Hate has no place on our streets’

Worshippers at the Stratford mosque and Leyton Jamia Masjid contacted Sky News saying their buildings had been vandalised with anti-Islamic graffiti.

The Met’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell said: “We understand that Muslim communities will be feeling particularly concerned for their safety following this series of shocking hate crimes.

“Hate has no place on our streets, and tackling it is at the centre of our efforts to make Londoners from all backgrounds and communities feel safe.

“Our local officers will continue to work with community leaders and ensure that a thorough investigation is being conducted”.

‘This is not an act of faith – it’s an act of cowardice’

A statement from Stratford Islamic Association to Sky News said: “Our mosque has been part of this community since 1993, and in all that time, we’ve only known kindness and respect from our neighbours.

“We are proud to be an integral part of this community, and today, we’ve been deeply moved by the overwhelming support from people of all backgrounds.”

It added: “The council and the police have stood with us, and we are truly grateful for their swift and compassionate response.

“Those responsible for this act of hate have shamed only themselves. This is not an act of faith – it’s an act of cowardice. But they will not intimidate us. We will not live in fear. Together, as a united community, we will stand strong.”

Police are urging anyone with information about the incidents to contact them on 101.

No arrests have been made.

WH Smith is in secret talks to sell its entire high street business in Britain more than 230 years after it opened its first shop in central London.

Sky News can exclusively reveal that the listed retail group, which has a market capitalisation of almost £1.5bn, has been in negotiations with a number of prospective buyers of the division for several weeks.

WH Smith will confirm the plan to the London Stock Exchange on Monday morning.

The company’s high street arm comprises roughly 500 stores, employing about 5,000 people across the country.

It is currently part of the same group as WH Smith’s faster-growing, more profitable travel retail business which operates from airports, train stations and hospitals.

The travel retail business comprises 600 shops in the UK, roughly half of a global operation numbering about 1,200 travel retail outlets.

Bankers at Greenhill have been appointed to run the sale process for the high street business, with a deal expected in the coming months.

The identities of the likely buyers were unclear on Saturday.

Run by Carl Cowling, chief executive, the disposal of its high street arm and repositioning as a pure-play travel retail company is likely to be welcomed by investors, one analyst said this weekend.

WH Smith’s high street division, which recorded flat operating profit of £32m last year, still largely sells greeting cards, books and stationery, while the travel arm has a wider offering of food and drink, and technology products.

The travel business now accounts for 75% of the company’s revenue, and 85% of profits, reflecting its higher margins.

It is growing particularly quickly in the US market.

The company’s retail business in hospitals is also growing rapidly, with 145 stores in 100 hospitals across the UK, and scope for openings in 200 further sites, it said in its last set of results in November.

News of the potential sale represents a watershed moment in the history of the British high street.

WHSmith’s first store was opened in 1792 by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna in Little Grosvenor Street, London.

The company opened the first ever travel retail store in Euston station in 1848.

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There have been questions about the future of WH Smith’s high street division for many years amid carnage elsewhere in the sector, with the likes of BHS, Debenhams and Comet all ceasing to trade from physical stores in the last 15 years.

This week, it emerged that roughly 15 WH Smith shops would be closed this year – part of an annual rationalisation of its store estate.

In 2006, the company’s news distribution arm, now known as Smiths News, was demerged into a separate London-listed company.

On Friday, shares in WH Smith closed at 1148p, having declined by about 5% over the last 12 months.

In a statement following Sky News’ report of its plans, WH Smith issued a statement confirming it was “exploring potential strategic options for this profitable and cash generative part of the Group, including a possible sale”.

“Over the past decade, WH Smith has become a focused global travel retailer,” the statement said.

“The Group’s Travel business has over 1,200 stores across 32 countries, and three-quarters of the Group’s revenue and 85% of its trading profit comes from the Travel business.

“There can be no certainty that any agreement will be reached, and further updates will be provided as and when appropriate.”

Three teenagers have died after a car hit a tree near Wakefield on Friday evening, West Yorkshire Police said.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 8.30pm on Bramley Lane near West Bretton where three males, two of them passengers aged 19 and one driver aged 18, were confirmed to have died.

Two men who were also travelling in the vehicle were taken to hospital.

One of those men remains in hospital with injuries that are described as life-threatening. The other male has injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The black Seat Ibiza car was travelling along the road in the direction of Wooley when it left the road and collided with a tree.

Officers from the Major Collision Enquiry Team (MCET) are appealing for anyone who may have seen the collision or the way the vehicle was being driven beforehand, or anyone with video footage, to contact them.

West Yorkshire Police senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: “This is a tragic incident which has resulted in the loss of three lives and fourth person suffering critical injuries.

“Our thoughts go out to the families of those involved who we are working with to provide support.

“Our specialist collision investigators are establishing the circumstances surrounding this fatal collision and I would urge anyone who may have seen the car involved or who may have dashcam or other video footage that will help our enquiries to please contact us.”

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