A 44-year-old white British man has been arrested after a shot was fired outside York Mosque and Islamic Centre in the early hours of Thursday, July 30, 2026. The incident occurred on Bull Lane shortly before 2:30am, prompting the mosque to close as a precaution.
Police respond to 'disturbing' incident
North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the suspect fled the scene in a silver car but was apprehended soon after. The weapon involved is believed to be an air gun. No injuries were reported, and an investigation is ongoing.
Detectives are working to establish a motive. In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said: 'It is too early to say what may have been the motivation behind this disturbing incident, but our Muslim community in York can be reassured that we are doing everything we can to establish the full circumstances.'
Mosque closes as precaution
Mohamad Douba, president of York Mosque and Islamic Centre, confirmed the closure. 'We are aware of the concerns within our community following an incident outside York Mosque and Islamic Centre in the early hours of this morning,' he said. 'We would like to reassure everyone that, Alhamdulillah [praise be to God], no one has been harmed and the situation is being managed with the support of the police.'
Douba explained that a member of the mosque raised the alarm after noticing suspicious activity and hearing what sounded like a gunshot. 'They immediately contacted the police, who attended the scene promptly. We would like to thank our brave member of the community for their quick thinking and for immediately alerting the police,' he added.
Community reassurance and investigation
Police have increased patrols in the area around the mosque, particularly during prayer times, and officers are scheduled to meet with the imam. Authorities are urging witnesses, or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact North Yorkshire Police or Crimestoppers.
Douba asked the public not to speculate and to allow the police to carry out their investigation. 'If you witnessed the incident or have any information that may assist the investigation, please contact the police,' he said.
