A 21-year-old man has been charged with racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage after a series of graffiti attacks on Muslim organisations and venues in Leyton and Stratford.
Illia Bilyk faces five counts of racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage following an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's North East Command Unit.
The charges relate to incidents at five locations. Offensive graffiti was sprayed on the Stratford Islamic Association in Brydges Road, Stratford, and the Al-Birr Mosque in Church Road, Leyton, on 23 January 2025. Leyton Jamia Masjid on High Road was also targeted that day.
Two further incidents followed on 25 January, when Noor Ul Islam Primary School in Dawlish Road and the Islamic Shariah Council in Francis Road were targeted.
The attacks caused concern among Muslim communities across east London at the time, with local politicians and community leaders condemning the vandalism. Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey described them as "appalling racist vandalism" and said they did not reflect the local community.
Chief Superintendent Rhona Hunt, who leads policing in the area, said the incidents had caused "significant distress" and continued to raise concerns. She said police were committed to tackling hate crime, and encouraged anyone who has experienced or witnessed anti-Muslim hate crime to report it.
Bilyk was due to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Thursday 17 September.
