Wednesday, August 3 2005 15:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Attacks on Muslims motivated by religious hatred have increased by almost 600 per cent since the two waves of bombings in London last month, police said even as the Government assured that counter-terrorism measures were not targeted against members of any particular community.

There were 269 'religious hate' crimes, compared with 40 in the same period last year, new figures released by London's Metropolitan Police showed.

"There is no doubt that incidents impacting on the Muslim community have increased," said Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur from London's Metropolitan Police yesterday (Aug 2, 2005).

Though the majority of incidents were minor assaults or low-level abuse, they had a great 'emotional impact' on communities, he said.

"It can lead to these communities completely retreating and not engaging at a time when we want their engagement and support," he added.

The crimes include criminal damage to property including mosques, physical and verbal attacks.

Even as the figures painted a dismal picture, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears asserted that Muslims in Britain would not suffer discrimination at the hands of the police. "Counter-terrorism powers are not targeting any community in particular, but are targeting terrorists," said Blears yesterday after talks with Muslim community leaders in the north of England.

"That is why they have got to be intelligence-led and used proportionally, fairly, and in a non-discriminatory way," Blears said.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said it had been so stretched by the bombings that work on major inquiries had 'slowed'.

Ghaffur said in the first three days after suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured 700 more, there were 68 'faith hate' crimes in London. During the same three days in 2004 there were none.

The meeting between Blears and Muslim leaders, the first of a series of such parleys planned, reviewed security, the controversial stop-and-search policy, engaging with young people and women, and tackling extremism and radicalization.

The Government has planned such meetings in Burnley, Leicester, Leeds, Birmingham and London to address the concerns of Muslims.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke is planning to hold follow-up talks with Muslim Leaders

Home Secretary Charles Clarke is planning to hold follow-up talks with Muslim leaders on September 20 when he will outline 'concrete proposals'.

Blear said police should not rule anyone out when using stop and search powers to prevent further bomb attacks, but asserted that the government 'never, ever endorsed' the use of racial profiling.

"You can equally have white people who could be the subject of intelligence," she told the BBC.

"I don't accept it is right simply to target groups," he added.

She said stop-and-search had to form part of a 'package of powers'.