A man has been slammed with a 40-week prison sentence after wrecking a multi faith room at Leeds’ St James’s Hospital.
Faith Room Targeted Twice in Weeks
Police were called to the Bexley Wing on 29 November 2025 after a framed Islamic scripture was smashed and several copies of the Quran were vandalised. Pages had been torn out, set on fire, then stuffed into the sink and toilet to cause blockages.
A second attack occurred on 9 December when more damage was done, again blocking the drains with debris.
Perp Caught Red-Handed
Security staff nabbed Ibrahim Iqbal, 36, with no fixed address, trying to break into the multi-faith room on 10 December. CCTV footage showed he was the culprit behind both incidents.
Officers confirmed no one else entered the room during the times the damage happened.
Further Hate Crime in Police Custody
While in police custody, Iqbal went on to scrawl antisemitic graffiti on his cell wall – another religiously aggravated offence.
At Leeds Magistrates’ Court, Iqbal pled guilty to two counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage and one count of criminal damage before being locked up for 40 weeks.
