Newcastle Islamic centre attack: Six teenagers arrested after Qurans ripped up and windows smashed

'Hate crime' comes two months after intruders wrote racist graffiti on prayer room walls

During the first attack on the Bahr Academy in January, vandals daubed racist graffiti on the prayer room walls (Bahr Academy)

Six teenagers have been arrested after an Islamic education centre was ransacked with copies of the Quran ripped up and windows smashed, police said.

The incident happened at the Bahr Academy on Benwell Lane, Newcastle – formerly the set of the children's TV show Byker Grove – at 9pm on Monday.

Northumbria Police said there was significant damage and have classed it as a hate crime.

In January, there was a similar break-in and vandalism at the centre but the offenders were never caught.

The force said an 18-year-old woman, two 16-year-old boys, two 14-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl have been arrested and remained in police custody.

Alan Davison, a neighbourhood inspector, said: “This is a very distressing incident for members of the Bahr Academy, particularly as it is the second break-in this year.

“Although there is not the same racist graffiti as we saw in the first incident, we are treating this as a hate crime.

“We are aware of the impact incidents of this nature can have on the community and I want to be clear that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.”

Officers will work with the academy to put measures in place to protect the centre and police will carry out high-visibility patrols.

PA