Manchester mosque where Salman Abedi prayed accuses media of ‘manufacturing stories’

'I assure everyone, listeners, viewers in the UK, around the UK, this bomber has never worked in this centre'

Manchester Islamic Centre representative Fawzi Haffar paid tribute to the 22 victims killed on Monday by Salman Abedi (Screenshot)

The Manchester mosque where bomber Salman Abedi used to pray has accused the media of “manufacturing stories” after it was reported the attacker worked at the centre.

Representatives for Manchester Islamic Centre expressed concern that a “small section” of the media were making “unfounded points without any verification.”

Spokesperson Fawzi Haffar denied Abedi had ever worked at the centre and condemned the “horrific atrocity” as having “no place in our religion.”

He said: “Some media reports have reported that the bomber worked at the Manchester Islamic Centre. This is not true. I assure everyone, listeners, viewers in the UK, around the UK, this bomber has never worked in this centre.

“We express concern that a small section, a very small section, of the media are manufacturing stories and making unfounded points without any verification or context or collaboration.

“We are concerned about reports about anti-Muslim acts these are terrible anti-Muslim acts ranging from verbal abuse to acts of criminal damage to mosques in the area and outside the area."

He added: “We encourage again we do encourage any incidents to be reported as a hate crime, these incidents have to be reported as hate crimes.”

The mosque held a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the terror attack that claimed 22 lives and injured 64 people at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

Mr Haffar said: “The horrific atrocity that occurred in Manchester on Monday night has shocked us all it had indeed shocked us all. This act of cowardice has no place in our religion or any other religion for that matter.

“We encourage anyone and I repeat we encourage anyone who have information about the individual involved to contact the police without any delay so they can assist with their investigations.”