1. On the 21st July 2010 a warrant was sought and obtained from Camberwell Green Magistrates Court by PC Julie Lyons an officer of Brixton Police station
to enter and search the premises 1-5 Hinton Road SE24 in relation to any items for the cultivation and any drug paraphernalia in relation to the illegal growth and supply of drugs.

2. At 11.15 a.m. on the 22nd July 2010, the police executed the search warrant under the provisions of Section 23 – Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

3. The search initially centred around a garage on the ground floor. The person in charge of the operation was a Sgt Burgess.

4. The police have stated that a firearm had been found on the premises of the garage and as a result fire arms officers were called to the scene.

5. After finding no drugs within the garage premises the officer in charge, Sgt Burgess noticed that there were closed shutters on the adjoining premises and decided to enter these in the search for drugs.

6. Sgt Burgess and his officers forced open the shutters to the Mosque and smashed in the door to gain entry into the UK Headquarters of the Nation of Islam.

7. Sgt Burgess maintains that before entering into the property he had no idea that the building was used as a Mosque, although there is a large sign on the side of the premises and a letterbox clearly marked Muhammad Mosque.

8. The Sgt informed us that when he reached to the top of the stairs of our building it was at that stage he realised that it was a religious house of worship.

9. The Sgt then "instructed his men" to proceed with the search for drugs and not to force any locked doors but to enter any unlocked rooms and to smell for any cannabis that may be on the property.

10. Minister Hilary Muhammad received a call from a brother that has attended the Mosque to inform him that it was being raided by armed police who were also situated outside of the building.

11. Minister Hilary Muhammad arrives at the Mosque a short while later to find the police still on the premises.

12. Minister Hilary Muhammad requests from the officer a full explanation as to why our Mosque was being raided by armed officers.

13. Sgt Burgess informs Minister Hilary that the police had reliable intelligence that the address 1-5 Hinton Road was being used as a cannabis factory. They said they were unable to comment any further regarding the intelligence.

14. The search took place from 11.15 a.m.-11.55 a.m.

15. It was fully explained to the Sgt and the officer who obtained the warrant that Brixton Police and other intelligence agencies in this country are fully aware that the Nation of Islam premises are situated at 1-5 Hinton Road, Brixton. Officers have been in the building to attend our community events in the past and they are fully aware of our existence, purpose and location.

16. The Sgt confirmed that he personally did not know that this was a Mosque and nor did the officer obtaining the warrant who was just a safer neighbourhood police officer.

17. Once inside the premises the Sgt realised that this part of the building was used as a house of religious worship so directed his officers not to retreat but to go only into any rooms that were not locked. He then directed them to go only down the corridors towards the toilets & the fire exits and use their sense of smell to determine whether any drugs were on the property.

18. The Sgt has said that he has spoken to Inspector Dornan who is the most senior officer that he could speak with and informed him of what had occurred at the Mosque. He is based at Brixton Police station and is the Inspector who is over the Borough. The Inspector stated that he knew that as a result of these actions tensions in the community will be high.

19. At 7 p.m. at the Mosque a meeting was held with Paul Wilson, Superintendent and Safer Neighbourhood & Community Cohesion Officer, also David McFarlane of the National Black Police Association. Both were very apologetic for what had happened.

20. A meeting was arranged to meet with Nick Ephgrave, Chief Superintendent and Borough Commander for Lambeth, to take place today at 10 a.m. at Brixton Police Station.

21. At 10 a.m., Friday 23^rd July, the meeting took place. Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave met with Minister Hilary Muhammad and was very apologetic. He said he was very concerned and it appears that there has been a terrible mistake. He deeply regrets what has happened and will write a formal letter of apology.

22. A formal complaint is made asking for an independent enquiry as to what went wrong.

23. The damage was caused to the shutters of the Mosque and the front door. The door will need to be replaced and the shutters repaired. The Sgt said he would arrange for this to be done and has our contact details to confirm when this will take place. He has said that it may not be done by today but they were contacting their emergency people to see what could be done. In the meantime the door was secured secured with padlocks.