News Assault arrest
OFFICERS investigating a reported assault in Loose Road, Maidstone, have made a second arrest. The offence happened on Tues-
day,August 29, 2017. On Thursday, August 31, police arrested a teenage girl from Maid- stone on suspicion of assault and theft. She was bailed to return to the police station in late September, pending further investigation. Officers have since arrested an
18-year-old man of no fixed ad- dress on suspicion of assault.He re- mains in police custody. Anybody who witnessed the in-
cident or has information that can help is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference YY/24703/17. Alternatively, call Kent Crimestoppers, anony- mously, on 0800 555111.
Ante-natal help
FOUR-week ante-natal courses are starting at Maidstone YMCA. The courses cost £100 and are
held on Monday evenings at 7.30- 9.30pm and are ideal for anyone in the 28-week plus stage of their pregnancy. There are relaxed discussions
with a qualified course leader and “no embarrassing role play”. Call the YMCA on 01622 749404 or visit
www.maidstoneymca.co.uk.
downsmail.co.uk
MP condemns ‘racist thugs’ inmosque row
FAR right group Britain First (BF) have been condemned as cowardly “thugs”wholive insewers, accord- ing to an extraordinary outburst from MaidstoneMPHelen Grant. Her comments came after a small
group of BF activists protested out- side Maidstone’s mosque over pro- posals to expand the existing place of worship in Mote Rd. Mrs Grant is incensed that despite receiving overwhelming local sup- port, BF say the development is “not wanted” by local people. In a statement, Mrs Grant con- cludes: “Members and supporters of Britain First, enjoy the sewers in which you live and breathe, but don’t bother coming to Maidstone, your stench is notwelcome here.” Maidstone Borough Council’s planning committee passed the ap- plication for the mosque’s expansion and had 150 submissions of local support. The only committee objec- tionwasmadeon planning grounds. Mrs Grant said: “So how dare
these individuals come to our town under the ‘Britain First’ banner and
MP Helen Grant with Dr Usmani, second right, and worshippers
say this development is notwanted? “They are cowards hiding behind
a rebranding of their true colours, laundering xenophobia and racism into the cleaner appearance of pop- ulism and nationalism.” Mrs Grant met the mosque’s
Imam Dr Muhammed Usmani ear- lier this year to lend support to the town’s Muslim community. She adds: “They are hard at work fundraising and I stand foursquare with them as the project develops. “These are decent people and Maidstone embraces them, as they do our Nepalese community, and in- deed myself; all people with an in-
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ternational aspect to our heritage.” Dr Usmani said: "I respect people's
right to free speech but Britain First are protesting outside the mosque every week and causing fear in the community. “These are educated people yet
some of the things they say are full of lies. Things like it becoming a 'mega-mosque' and the funding coming from abroad are simply just not true." Downs Mail approached Britain
First’s leader Paul Golding for a comment but he failed to respond. Read Mrs Grant’s statement in full on our letters pages, 46-47
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