Bolton man arrested over Facebook comments about London terror murder

It comes as police patrols have been stepped up around mosques in Bolton following the brutal killing of Drummer Lee Rigby, who was attacked in Woolwich on Wednesday by a terrorist.

A mosque in Bolton was daubed with racist graffiti within hours of the killing in London.

A police spokesman said a 33-year-old man from Morris Green was arrested after posting offensive comments on Facebook about the murder.

Officers from Bolton South’s neighbourhood team arrested him on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

He has been bailed until June 20, pending further inquiries.

Today there was a police presence outside the Zakariyya mosque in Derby Street and Taiyabah Mosque in Blackburn Road during Friday prayers, which police said was to offer reassurance.

A spokesman for the Bolton Council of Mosques said: “Because of the situation there is tension so we have been in communication with the police and requested extra patrols outside the mosques as a precaution and we are continuing to monitor the situation.

“What happened in London is unacceptable and barbaric. It is nothing to do with our religion and people are taking things out of context in our peaceful town.”

Drummer Rigby’s family said yesterday “our hearts have been ripped apart”.

His wife Rebecca, aged 30, mother of his son Jack, aged two, and stepfather Ian Rigby, 54, fought back tears as they spoke on behalf of the 25-year-old’s family at a press conference at the regimental HQ of his unit, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Bury.

The soldier’s mother, Lyn Rigby, aged 46, sat red-eyed, unable to speak through tears, clutching a teddy her son had bought his child.

Sobbing, Rebecca Rigby said: “I love Lee and always will. I am proud to be his wife and he was due to come up this weekend so we could continue our future together as a family.

“He was a devoted father to our son Jack and we will both miss him terribly.”