Police record ‘hate incident’ after autistic boy drops Quran in school corridor

1 March 2023, 10:09 | Updated: 1 March 2023, 11:26

Police recorded a ‘hate incident’ after a boy dropped the Quran at school
Police recorded a ‘hate incident’ after a boy dropped the Quran at school. Picture: Google Maps/Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Police have recorded a “hate incident” after an autistic boy dropped a copy of the Quran in a busy school corridor and four pupils were suspended over false rumours that it had been set alight.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

A Year 10 pupil at Kettlethorpe High School, Wakefield - who was said to be autistic - was told to bring in a copy of the Quran by friends after losing a video game. It was later damaged after he dropped it in a busy corridor.

Four pupils were suspended for a week and West Yorkshire police intervened after false rumours spread that the holy book had been set alight.

Akef Akbar, a councillor who works with the school, said the boy had taken the Quran to school last week and given it to another pupil who read out passages on the tennis court.

The book was later taken inside, where it fell on the floor before being put in a pupil’s bag, he said.

Inspector Andy Thornton spoke to parents at the local mosque and told them the damage was being treated as a “hate incident”.

Meanwhile, Tudor Griffiths, the school's headteacher, said there had been “no malicious intent” but the pupils’ actions were “unacceptable”.

Read more: More protests erupt at British schools as pupils riot amid claims boys are photographing girls in unisex toilets

Read more: School suspends sex education as independent review launched after drag queen 'told 11-year-olds there are 73 genders'

The home secretary expressed concern after police recorded the “hate incident”
The home secretary expressed concern after police recorded the “hate incident”. Picture: Alamy

In a recording of a meeting seen by The Times, Mr Griffiths said: “If more consequences have to be followed, that will be the case.”

Humanists UK said the decision to suspend the boys alleged to have started the rumours was “horrendous” and the school had allowed itself to be “pressured into excessive disciplinary action by areligious group”.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is understood to have expressed concern after police took such steps over the “slight damage”.

“These are very concerning reports," a source close to Ms Braverman said.

"The Home Secretary is clear that the police response should always be proportionate and consider the welfare of young children as a priority over any perceived insults.”

The mother of the boy who brought in the Quran said he was autistic and had received death threats.

Apologising on his behalf, she added: “He hasn’t eaten since Wednesday afternoon when this occurred because with his autism.

"It’s put his anxiety to a level where he is beside himself. He is very, very sorry.”

The case is believed to be considered a “non-crime hate incident”, giving police a way to record an incident which does not necessarily meet the criminal threshold.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
The former Deputy Foreign Secretary said: “Many countries in Europe are simply not spending anywhere near, in percentage terms, what America is spending.

UK needs to ‘spend less on welfare and more on defence’ to support Ukraine, former Deputy Foreign Secretary tells LBC

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple detained in Iran pictured for the first time as family break silence on 'distressing situation'

The Jet2 plane was forced to divert.

Jet2 plane bound for UK makes emergency landing after passenger dies on board

he Philadelphia Eagles celebrate in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Championship Parade on February 14, 2025

Two women shot and injured during Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl victory parade, police say

Social media footage showed a man being kicked on the ground by his knife-wielding attacker.

Two charged by police after shock footage shows man kicked and spat at by knifeman after ‘burning Koran’ in London

Jannik Sinner

World tennis number one Jannik Sinner handed three-month ban for doping

Keith Edun, 47, used the messaging app “Kik” to spread vile images of children

Predator who encouraged man to rape a baby after sharing vile images of children online is jailed for 21 years

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Zelenskyy calls for creation of ‘European army’ as he warns Russia 'will pull Europe apart' if not defeated

The woman who said she was raped by rappers and business moguls Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2000, when she was 13, has dropped her civil lawsuit against both men.

Woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of raping her when she was 13 drops lawsuit

Liam Payne died last Wednesday.

One Direction star Liam Payne was 'sectioned' after near-fatal overdose months before death, close friend claims

Hamas hands over 3 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip to Red Cross

Israeli hostages paraded on stage before being freed as four Palestinian prisoners released in 'critical condition'

uk british national lottery euromillions ticket with picks

Winning numbers revealed as single UK EuroMillions ticket holder scoops massive £65million Valentine’s Day jackpot

Breaking
Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

Woman dies after Valentine's Day shooting at village pub as murder probe launched

Rob and Lindsey Burrow a few weeks before he died

Rob Burrow's wife reveals heartbreaking moment she knew rugby league star 'couldn't go on' with MND struggle

Axel Rudakubana will be 'target number one' in prison

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana's sentence won't be referred to Court of Appeal despite claims it's 'unduly lenient'

The damaged shield

'Risk of radioactive leak' after Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl, causing 'significant damage'