Pig's head dumped in hate crime in Hemel Hempstead

The disgusting find was discovered by walkers outside the vacant Nash Mills Methodist Church in Barnacres Lane, Hemel Hempstead, on Friday morning.

The Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) support group has reported an increase in Islamophobia since the Manchester Arena bombing earlier last week.

The church has been empty for a decade but is owned by the Quwwatul Islam Mosque based on St Albans Hill.

Resident John Hall removed the head from outside the building.

He said: “It was a nasty thing to find. I’m not religious, but everyone should have the right to be religious without something like this happening.”

Terrence Collins, a Nash Mills parish councillor, said: “I know some parents were upset about their children seeing such a sight.”

Although no plans are yet in place for the empty building police said its location and ownership made it a hate crime.

Jhangeer Hussain, general secretary of the mosque, said: “Unfortunately there are people who will always want to do these kinds of things.

“All we can do is leave it in the hands of the police.

“There is sometimes a backlash, and that’s why the police are there and they can handle it accordingly.”

A police spokesman said: “Officers were called at 9.16am on Friday, May 26, to reports that a pig’s head had been discovered on the pavement in Barnacres Road.

“Due to the location in which it was found, the incident is currently being treated as a hate crime.

“Hertfordshire Constabulary takes reports of this nature very seriously. Call 101 if you can nelp.”