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Community heroes step forward to support Ashton Mosque after incident

Residents in Ashton have come together in a powerful show of unity and solidarity following a recent incident at Manchester Central Mosque on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.

In the days since, two local men, Martin Wright and Oggie Ogden, have been widely praised for their selfless commitment to supporting worshippers at Masjid E Hamzah.

Taking it upon themselves to act, the pair have been volunteering their time every evening, standing guard at the mosque entrance for several hours during Ramadan. Their presence has provided reassurance to members of the congregation as they arrive for evening prayers during what is a particularly important time in the Islamic calendar.

They have pledged to continue their efforts each night until Eid, expected towards the end of this week.

Members of the local Muslim community have expressed deep gratitude for the gesture, describing it as a meaningful act of solidarity during a time of concern.

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