A MAN has been seen smashing up cars and attacking at least one person outside a mosque.

Witnesses have described the moment a man went into the Umar Al-Farooq Islamic Centre on Derby Road on Thursday, before going on to attack the caretaker and smash a number of parked cars.

Matt Stickland of J.S Autos on Mount Pleasant Road said: "A man came and started smashing up cars. The caretaker for the mosque was inside, and he shouted at him to stop. He then attacked the guy in the mosque with a padlock in his hand.

"He then came out into the street and tried to attack a guy who was in his car. He smashed windows in another car too.

"Three guys then intervened and had him pinned over by the railings outside the mosque."

Daily Echo:

Officers were called at 1.16pm on Thursday to a report of an altercation.

A cordon was put in place from the Denzil Avenue junction to the Derby Road intersection in front of the mosque while investigations were carried out.

Mr Stickland says police were there all afternoon and left around 10am the following day. 

Officers attended and located a man with injuries to his head and face.

A 21-year-old man from Southampton was detained under the Mental Health Act.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and has been discharged.

Police say enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.   

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