Man charged after air rifle fired outside York Mosque
Rifle fired outside York Mosque and Islamic Centre in the early hours of the morning
Last updated 2nd Aug 2026
A man has been charged after an air rifle was fired outside York Mosque and Islamic Centre in York during the early hours of Thursday 30th July.
Police were called at around 2.19am after a member of York Mosque and Islamic Centre reported hearing what was described as a shooting outside the building.
The 44-year-old man has been charged with possessing a loaded air weapon, a .22 air rifle, in a public place, North Yorkshire Police said.
The force said that following extensive enquiries and searches, there was no evidence to suggest the firing of the air rifle was motivated by anything ideological, hate-related, or specifically targeted against the Muslim community in York.
The man has been bailed with conditions, including being required to stay away from York Mosque, and is due to appear at York Magistrates’ Court on 21st September 2026.
Superintendent Ed Haywood-Noble, Senior Operational Commander for York and Selby, said “This has been a worrying time for everyone connected to York Mosque and all our communities in York”.
“In relation to the firing of the air rifle, our investigation has not identified an intention to cause injuries or distress to people”.
He added that the Neighbourhood Policing Team would continue high-visibility patrols in the area over the coming days to provide reassurance for communities across the city.
North Yorkshire Police is asking anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage that could support the investigation to get in touch.