Arson attacks on St Margaret’s Church in Ilkley

Case information
Incident date
Country
United Kingdom
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Arson
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated

On 10 January, an arson attack was reported at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley. It is believed that an umbrella stand in the entrance to the building was set on fire.

The churchwardens of the place of worship, which dates back to the 1870s, said that they had taken the tough decision to cancel services this week, with the hope Sunday services will resume as normal from this weekend.

Sources