A HAMPSHIRE mosque has again been targeted in a racist attack.

Racist graffiti was daubed on the wall of the Albirr Masjid mosque in Basingstoke over the weekend.

A man attending the Sarum Hill mosque for prayers between 9pm and 10pm on Saturday discovered the abuse when he came out.

Graffiti was written on the walls in large one-foot high letters.

It follows what detectives believe was a racially motivated arson attack last month.

Police are now appealing for witnesses.

Inspector Annabel Berry (corr spell) of Basingstoke police said: "We take all graffiti attacks seriously but especially those that target particular sections of our community.

"I would like to reassure people that though this is the second attack in the past couple of months such events are rare and we are investigating.

"Anyone caught carrying out a racist attack of any sort will be dealt with robustly."

About 16 firefighters spent two hours tackling the blaze in the mosque roof last month.

Police said three hours earlier a man tried to force his way into a house in Goat Lane.

He made racist and religious remarks to those inside and references to recent anti-terror arrests in London.

Detectives said the events could be linked.

Anyone with any information on the latest graffiti attack should call Basingstoke police station on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.