GREATER Manchester's chief constable Michael Todd has visited a city mosque, where he and Muslim leaders stressed the need to work together in the battle against extremism.

The top police officer attended the Khizra mosque at the invitation of former Lord Mayor Coun Azfal Khan. Although the visit had been planned for later in the month, the private visit was brought forward, following the trial of Omar Altimimi and the bomb attacks on London and Glasgow.

"These are difficult times," said Coun Khan. "We need to be working together."

In talks with mosque officials, the police chief heard how up to 1000 worshippers pray at the mosque every day. During Ramadan, he heard how the numbers can swell to thousands and worshippers even crowd onto the stairwells.

Important time

Arriving at the Cheetham Hill mosque for Friday prayers, less than an hour after the jailing of Altimimi, Mr Todd said: "This is such an important time.

"We understand that Islam is a peaceful religion and the events in London and Glasgow are more about violent extremism. But I can't explain to a young Muslim that they are misreading the Koran, that has to come from here.

"The police are here to protect and serve. We have to police by consent. We are not an army of occupation."

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