Sunderland riots: Night of violence leaves community in fear

Mr Iqbal said that following the rioting some Muslim people were scared to leave their homes, with members of other faiths also feeling concerned.

“Older men are terrified. The women, they don’t want to come out,” he said.

“I’ve heard from the Sikh community, that they had to be vigilant and make sure that the gurdwara didn’t get attacked. Fortunately, it didn’t.

“We had to close the mosques on Friday night and not go about our normal business, because we didn’t want our elders to be put at risk.”

The taxi driver said he had been receiving supportive messages from the “true people of Sunderland”, but he fears more attacks “not just on mosques, but on shops, hospitals”.

“I was born and raised and lived all my life in Sunderland. Today I don’t (feel safe).

“Sunderland’s my life. I go to the matches, I’ve got a season ticket. I sit there in amongst the crowd.

“Why shouldn’t I feel safe on the streets I was born and lived all my life in?”