A Suspicious Package Was Discovered Outside A Mosque In The West Midlands

Police were alerted to the  incident at around 22:45 BST on Saturday and the bomb squad ordered about 40 nearby homes to be evacuated early on Sunday.

At about 07:30 BST police said people were being led from their homes in the Caldmore area and those who could not make other arrangements were taken to Walsall Town Hall.

Forensic Officers Outside Walsall’s Aisha Mosque

“This morning at 6am, there was a bang on the door like they were breaking it down and the police were there waiting,” Ms Pepe said.

“They told us to get ready as soon as possible and follow them to a bus and be taken to town hall and that’s all we knew first thing this morning.”

Speaking at a press conference at the scene, Zia ul-Haq, from the mosque, said the discovery was “totally out of the blue” and they did not know who could be behind it.

He said: “We found a suspicious item which we did not consider to be serious but as a precaution we thought that we would call the police and bring this to their attention.

Linda Pepe and son Ricardo

“They have taken this very seriously and they have supported us whole-heartedly and we are very grateful to the police and the local authority.

“We are not suspecting anybody, we are leaving it in the good hands of the police.”

Some residents told the BBC they heard what sounded a like a firework go off near to the mosque on Friday evening.

Police said this morning Supt Keith Fraser, from the West Midlands force, said detectives were pursuing a “number of lines of inquiry”.

Mr Fraser said there had been some reports from the community that there were “things happening over the weekend” but asked anyone with information to contact police.

Speaking at a press conference at the scene, Zia ul-Haq, from the mosque, We are not suspecting anybody, we are leaving it in the good hands of the police”

Zahid Ali, cabinet member for public protection at the council, said it executed its emergency planning procedures once police were contacted.

“We have taken the residents living within the immediate vicinity of the area into the council’s civic offices and premises.

“We have put in comprehensive support for them, including food and whatever other support they require.”

Late yesterday evening, police announced that A suspicious package found near a West Midlands mosque was a small home-made explosive device, police have said.