THE woman behind the petition opposing a new Blackburn mosque has condemned the dumping of two pig heads at the Islamic girls’ school proposed for the development.

The weekend incident is being investigated by police as a potentially racist or religious hate crime.

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The dumping of the heads, particularly offensive to Muslims, at the Markazul Uloom Girls School in Park Lee Road in Highercroft horrified religious and political leaders.

The chorus of condemnation was led by Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson, the town’s MP Kate Hollern, and the chairman of Lancashire’s Council of Mosques Abdul Hamid Qureshi.

The school submitted a planning application this month to build a mosque with dome and minarets. The plan generated an online protest petition with more than 2,000 signatures.

Yesterday the woman behind the petition, Sara Herd, condemned the dumping of the pig heads and previous graffiti on the school wall.

The 43-year-old, of Little Harwood, said: “I condemn this appalling act and hope those responsible are caught.

“My objections are not racially or religiously motivated — they are purely on planning grounds.

“It is about traffic, noise and disruption and would apply just as much if it was church. This is the wrong site for a place of worship.”

Mr Qureshi said: “I welcome the fact that this lady has condemned the dumping of the heads.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council has asked the applicant to withdraw the proposal because it is invalid as the school is not approved for use as a regular place of worship.

Borough Tory group leader Mike Lee condemned the dumping of the pig heads as appalling.

A police spokesman said inquiries are ongoing.