'Loud bang' outside mosque in UK may be a terrorist attack: Police

Explosion results in zero casualties and a large amount of debris.

TIPTON: Minutes before the weekly Friday prayers were to get underway at a mosque in Tipton, UK, an explosion strewed nails around the building, reported BBC.

Although West Midlands Police did not report any injuries, residents did report finding nails and debris in the vicinity, after which the area around Binfield Street was cordoned off as a safety measure.

The incident occurred at about 13:00 BST, police said. The usual Friday congregations had been moved to 14:00 due to Ramazan.

"Police have been called to Binfield Street in Tipton this afternoon following reports of a loud bang," said a police spokesperson.

"Some residents have reported finding debris in the area and finding nails. It is being investigated by forensic officers at the scene."

Tipton councillor Ian Jones said he was "very shocked" at what had happened.

"We have always had a stable relationship between different people in this community."

Investigators have gathered to collect evidence and further probe the nature of the explosion.

West Midlands Police are still in the process of investigating an explosion that occurred near a mosque in Walsall last month. On that occasion, about 150 people were evacuated from homes near Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre after a device was found in an nearby alleyway.