Members of the Ahmadiyya community in Waverley and East Hampshire are praying for peace as concern grows for Muslims and their places of worship amid ongoing unrest.

The group, which has a large mosque and presence in Tilford, is emphasising the need for “peace, tolerance and interfaith harmony at this time of chaos”.

Recent incidents in Aldershot and reports of plans to target and cause disorder at a mosque in Woking have led to concerns about an increase in violence and targeted incidents towards Muslims.

A spokesperson for the community said: “As Muslims, we feel concerned that mosques are being attacked and that other civic buildings have been destroyed.

“We pray the situation is brought under control soon and that law and order will be restored in the country.

“People should promote goodwill and stand together against hatred so we can emerge as a more cohesive society.”

The community also want to highlight the importance of being vigilant against misinformation as platforms like X and Facebook have been used to spread inaccurate and false information.

Ahmadiyya members have vowed to counter the misinformation by continuing their work supporting the community and developing positive relationships with neighbours to dispel misconceptions about Islam.

The Ahmadiyya Association recently held its annual Jalsa Salana convention - the largest of its kind in the UK - near Kingsley where their leader Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad expressed the need for peace and unity.

They also donated roti bread to Surrey and Hampshire food banks as part of the annual event.