‘I don’t remember feeling this unsafe’: Frightened worshippers too scared to walk the streets
“I don’t remember feeling this unsafe ever before,” says 76-year-old devout Sikh Resham Kaur who moved to the UK from India when she was 18.
She’s waiting for two men to walk her home from the gurdwara – a Sikh place of worship – at a time of rising fears over physical and verbal racial abuse.
Resham reaches for her walking stick and puts on her shoes.
Sarbjit Singh and Mangat Singh walking Resham Kaur home from the gurdwara
Monty Singh says they are ‘not vigilantes’
“When I came to this country, I didn’t fear for my safety. But now I do – every day. It’s a lot worse now,” she says.
It’s a disturbing admission at a time when some fear Britain’s communities are more fragmented than ever.
It comes as new figures last week revealed religious hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales has reached a record high.
Two volunteers arrive, opening the exit door for Resham at the gurdwara in Smethwick in the West Midlands.
Sarbjit Singh – who works in a bakery – and Mangat Singh – who works at a salad farm – are part of the congregation and walk people to and from the gurdwara on their days off to keep them safe.
With attendance numbers at the gurdwara falling because of safety fears, Sarbjit says it’s something they need to do “until we get a bit of peace and tranquillity back in society and the community”.
“We have to do something. We can’t just sit in silence. And we can’t let the congregation just stay at home,” Sarbjit says.
The Oldbury patrol
Other groups of Sikh men are also taking action – joining patrols along a road in nearby Oldbury where a young Sikh woman was allegedly raped a few weeks ago.
That alleged attack – and an assault on two taxi drivers in Wolverhampton in August – have horrified the Sikh community. Police are treating both incidents as racially aggravated.
Two Sikh taxi drivers were allegedly assaulted in Wolverhampton in August
Monty Singh, who is taking part in the patrols, says they are “not vigilantes”.
“We need to make it crystal clear that we’re good people, we’re just trying to do the right thing and support our community,” Monty adds.
Pervinder Kaur is the vice president of the gurdwara.
Pervinder Kaur said before the summer people felt safe, but racial abuse is being emboldened
She believes racial abuse is being emboldened after a summer of demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers and renewed debate about immigration.
“People are more verbal about it now. They are not scared of the consequences,” she said.
A sense of vulnerability is common among minority communities and security measures have also been stepped up at mosques around the country.
Iman Adam Kantar said ‘the Union Jack is our flag’
Friday prayers at the Rumi Mosque in Edmonton, north London
Imam Adam Kantar from the Rumi Mosque in Edmonton, north London, said: “Many people are now telling their children not to be outside after certain hours.
“Their [husbands], they prefer to go shopping instead of their hijab [wearing] wives and spouses.
“We have to engage with the wider community and prove that we love this country and its people. The Union Jack is our flag.”
What Britain’s fragmented society has in common is fear among minority communities – even if the causes are different.
Rabbi Josh Levy, the co-lead of Progressive Judaism, has spent years trying to advance interfaith dialogue.
He said: “Single individual(s) or small groups can cause a huge amount of pain and distress.
“There are lots of really great examples of community cohesion around the country. But generally, there is definitely a sense of fragmentation. And whether it’s driven by political concerns or what’s happening internationally.
“We’ve got huge work to do in taking the work that happens on a national level and bringing it into local communities.”
Police are investigating after a “number of people” were believed to have been attacked with pepper spray by a group of men who then fled.
Officers were called at 8.11am to a multi-storey car park at Terminal 3 following reports of multiple people being assaulted, said the Metropolitan Police.
A statement by the force said: “A number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray by a group of men who then left the scene.”
What we know so far
• Several assaulted with ‘pepper spray’
• One arrest – police hunt for more suspects
• Incident said to involve people known to each other
• Incident not being treated as terrorism
• 21 people treated by ambulance service – five taken to hospital
• Injuries not believed to be life-threatening
• Traffic disruption reported – but train lines since reopened
Live updates on Heathrow incident
Fire engines responding to the incident at Heathrow Airport. Pic: @_umarjaved
Armed police attended and one man was arrested on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody and enquiries continue to trace further suspects.
Police are not treating the Heathrow incident as terrorism.
London Ambulance Service also attended the scene and treated 21 people, including five who were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.
There is currently some disruption to traffic in the area and Terminal 3 remains open.
Increased police presence
Commander Peter Stevens said: “At this stage, we believe the incident involved a group of people known to each other, with an argument escalating and resulting in a number of people being injured.
“Our officers responded quickly and there will be an increased police presence at Heathrow Airport throughout the morning, to continue enquiries and ensure the safety of those in the area.
“We are not treating this incident as terrorism. I understand the public’s concerns and would like to thank those in the area for their cooperation this morning.”
A person is detained at the airport. Pic: @_umarjaved
‘Significant incident’
The London Ambulance Service said a “significant incident” was declared.
There was a “full deployment” of resources and the ambulance service is treating it as ongoing.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.14am today to assist emergency service colleagues at an incident near Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport. Firefighters remain at the scene.”
Heathrow is advising passengers to allow extra time when travelling to the airport and to check with their airline for any queries.
There was disruption to train and Tube services, with some delays on the Elizabeth Line and the Piccadilly Line.
National Rail said on its website that lines had been reopened allowing trains to call at Heathrow “following the emergency services dealing with an incident at the airport”.
It said: “Although lines have now reopened, disruption is expected to continue whilst services return to normal, delays of up to 10 minutes and cancellations can be expected until 11.45am.”
National Highways East said on X: “A serious incident within the @HeathrowAirport Tunnel has resulted in the closure of the #M4 spur road southbound between M4 and J4A.
“@metpoliceuk responding. We’ll keep you updated.”
It later said: “Incident has been resolved and all closures lifted on the #M4 southbound @HeathrowAirport spur road between #M4 and J4A.”
People on social media have reported vehicles were being searched at the airport.
A user on X said there was a “major backlog of cars unable to leave the vicinity or enter the drop-off zone” at Terminal 3.
In footage on X, several armed police were seen in a car park.
England and Scotland fans have found out where their World Cup group games will be played when the tournament kicks off in June.
England, who are in Group L, will begin their tournament against Croatia in Dallas at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 17 June. They will then go on to face Ghana in Boston at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 23 June and Panama in New Jersey, New York, at 5pm EST (10pm BST) on 27 June.
Scotland are in Group C, and their first match will be against Haiti in Boston at 9pm EST on 13 June (2am GMT the following morning).
They will go up against Morocco also in Boston at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 19 June and then Brazil in Miami at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 24 June.
Fans are expected to rush to sort their travel and accommodation plans now that they know where and when the matches take place.
Read more: Unapologetically political – a World Cup draw like no other
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England and Scotland learn World Cup fate
Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to find out if they will qualify.
Wales must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
If they beat these play-off opponents, they will secure their place in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
However, Northern Ireland will also be vying to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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UK
World Cup 2026 – who England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will play
Scotland and England now know who they will face in the group stage of the next summer’s world cup.
But the fates of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales won’t be determined until they compete in pre-tournament play-off matches in March.
England are in Group L along with Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Their first match will be against Croatia, who beat them in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Pic: Reuters
Scotland’s first match will be against Haiti, in Group C.
Brazil and Morocco are the other Group C teams – both countries were also in the same opening group as Scotland in the 1998 World Cup in France.
Trump and Infantino at the World Cup draw
Wales have yet to find out if they will qualify as they must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, and then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
Read more:
EasyJet staff at Luton Airport to strike over Christmas
If they can overcome these play-off opponents then they will secure their place in Group B along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. But Northern Ireland will also be vying and hoping to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
The Republic of Ireland also need to get through the play-offs first and are paired against the Czech Republic for their semi-final. Should Ireland win that match, they will need to beat either North Macedonia or Denmark to get to the finals where an opening group containing joint hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea awaits.
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