A mosque has been repeatedly rammed by a car before suspected vandals poured an oily substance across its grounds.
Police are treating the incident at Cornwall Islamic Community Centre, near Truro, as racially aggravated criminal damage.
CCTV reportedly shows a small vehicle reversing into the centre’s entrance gates several times.
READ MORE: UK landmark smashed in ‘SLEDGEHAMMER attack’ as man 44 charged
Two people then appear to approach carrying bottles before pouring liquid into the grounds.
They allegedly return with a larger container and spread more of the substance across the garden and outside of the building, as reported by Need To Know.
The pair then flee in the vehicle following the incident at around 11:25pm on Thursday!(17 September).
Pictures taken afterwards show dark liquid covering parts of the garden and splashed across an exterior wall.
The substance has been described as suspected diesel, although police have so far said only that it is unknown and could be oil.
The metal entrance gates at the centre in Quenchwell Road, Carnon Downs, were also substantially damaged.
Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating and have appealed for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage.
Officers also want to hear from anyone who spotted suspicious vehicles in the area overnight between 17 and 18 September.
Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley, police commander for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Due to the location of the incident, we are treating it as racially aggravated criminal damage until such time as the evidence suggests otherwise.
“Such acts of mindless vandalism will not be welcomed in our communities.
“I would like to assure local residents that they can expect to see reassurance patrols being carried out today and over the weekend.
“I would urge anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area at the time, or who has any information that could assist the investigation, to contact us via 101 or our website quoting log no 169 of 18/9/26.”
No arrests have been announced in the force’s latest publicly available update.
The centre has since received an outpouring of support from residents, businesses and politicians across Cornwall.
A fundraiser to pay for repairs, clean-up work and improved security has raised more than £3,000 of its £4,500 target from over 120 donations.
The centre said it was the first incident of its kind there in almost 18 years.
Around 100 people are understood to attend Friday prayers at the former Methodist chapel, which sits on the boundary of the Kea and Feock parishes.
Political representatives from across party lines have also condemned the incident and offered practical and financial support.
The Cornwall Islamic Community Centre traces its beginnings to 1992, when the county’s Muslim population numbered fewer than 10 and efforts were being made to secure a room for Friday prayers.
Jam Press has approached Devon and Cornwall Police for a further update.
READ MORE: Elderly Brit PUNCHES biker during shocking road rage fight
