Religious hate crimes surge after London attacks

LONDON — Since the July 7 bombings in London that killed 52 people and injured 700, religious hate crimes have multiplied more than sixfold in the British capital, according to figures released by the police. In the three weeks after July 7, 269 religious hate crimes were recorded, compared to 40 in the equivalent three-week period in 2004. Most of these were verbal abuse and minor assaults, but they also included damage to mosques.

The Muslim Association of Britain attributed the reaction to “media hysteria” and said the true number of incidents is likely higher because not all Muslims who had suffered abuse are reporting it to the police.