A 44-year-old man has been charged after a shot was fired outside the York Mosque and Islamic Centre in the early hours of Thursday, July 30, North Yorkshire Police have confirmed.
Charge and court date
Police said the defendant faces a single charge of possessing a loaded .22 air rifle in a public place. He has been granted bail with conditions, including an order to keep away from York Mosque, and is scheduled to appear at York Magistrates' Court on Monday 21 September at 10.00am (courtroom two). The case reference given by police is 12NY0901326.
Investigation and policing response
Officers attended the mosque on Bull Lane after the firearm was discharged at approximately 02:19 on 30 July. Superintendent Ed Haywood-Noble, Senior Operational Commander for York and Selby, said the investigation has not found evidence the incident was motivated by ideology or targeted at the Muslim community.
“This has been a worrying time for everyone connected to York Mosque and all our communities in York… our investigation has not identified an intention to cause injuries or distress to people,”
He added that as normality returns the force's neighbourhood policing team will maintain high-visibility patrols to provide reassurance.
Impact on the mosque and community
The mosque was temporarily closed following the incident but has since reopened. Superintendent Haywood-Noble thanked the mosque leadership, community partners and local residents for their patience and support during the police inquiry.
- Time of incident: 02:19, 30 July 2026
- Charge: Possessing a loaded .22 air rifle in a public place
- Court date: 21 September 2026, 10.00am
- Police reference: 12260145924
How the public can help
North Yorkshire Police have asked anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage that could assist the investigation to contact them via 101, quoting reference 12260145924.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Bull Lane, York (York Mosque and Islamic Centre) |
| Alleged weapon | .22 air rifle (loaded) |
| Defendant | 44-year-old man (charged) |
The charge so far relates to possession of the loaded air weapon in public; police did not say they had evidence of an intent to injure. The outcome of the court hearing in September will determine the next legal steps.
