Man, 21, charged over graffiti attacks on five Muslim venues

A 21-year-old man, Illia Bilyk, has been formally charged with five offences of racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage. These charges follow a police investigation into a series of graffiti incidents that targeted several Muslim organisations and places of worship in Leyton and Stratford in January of last year.

Details of the Incidents

The Metropolitan Police's North East Command Unit investigated the alleged criminal damage. The charges relate to five specific locations. On January 23, 2025, offensive graffiti was discovered at Stratford Islamic Association, located on Brydges Road in Stratford, and at Al-Birr Mosque on Church Road in Leyton. Leyton Jamia Masjid, situated on High Road, was also defaced on the same day. Two days later, on January 25, 2025, further incidents occurred at Noor Ul Islam Primary School in Dawlish Road and the Islamic Shariah Council on Francis Road.

Community Response and Police Commitment

These acts of vandalism caused considerable concern within Muslim communities across east London. Local politicians and community leaders publicly denounced the graffiti. At the time, Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey described the attacks as "appalling racist vandalism" and stated they did not represent the local population. Reports at the time suggested police were examining potential links between these acts and a Russia-linked Telegram channel that allegedly offered financial incentives for attacks on Muslim communities. Chief Superintendent Rhona Hunt, who oversees policing in the affected areas, acknowledged the "significant distress" caused by the incidents and stated that police remain dedicated to combating hate crime. She encouraged anyone who has experienced or witnessed anti-Muslim hate crime to report it to the authorities.

Court Appearance

Illia Bilyk is scheduled to make his first appearance at Thames Magistrates’ Court on September 17.