Police seek to charge teen with inciting racial tension

The youth , whose name has been suppressed, has been remanded until next month. Picture / Dean Purcell

A teenager accused of vandalising mosques in seven attacks around Auckland may also be charged with inciting racial tension.

The 18-year-old from Flat Bush appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday facing seven charges of intentional damage to places of Muslim worship.

He was granted interim name suppression until a pre-depositions hearing next month.

Slightly built and of European origin, the teenager was dressed in a black jacket and jeans.

Defence lawyer Shane Tait told the court his client wanted name suppression because he was a fulltime student in a tertiary institution and the serious charges could affect the qualifications he was seeking.

The accused had not yet been able to tell his family.

Mr Tait said it was significant that the police were seeking consent from the Attorney-General to lay a further charge of inciting racial tension. Six mosques were desecrated.

Windows were smashed and walls daubed with graffiti with variations of "RIP London" in apparent retaliation for the London bombings.

Police are seeking others in relation to the vandalism.

The teenager is charged with intentional damage of the Otahuhu mosque early on Friday a week ago, and the following Sunday. He is also charged with vandalising mosques at Mt Roskill, Ponsonby and Ranui, and of the Blockhouse Bay Islamic Centre in New Lynn and the Al-Farooq Cultural Centre at Otahuhu.

Mr Tait said bail had not been opposed although police had stipulated strict conditions.

Police opposed the application for name suppression but Judge Semi Epati granted interim suppression which he said would be revised when the accused next appeared in court.

The teenager hid his face from the media when taken away by police.

Muslims said earlier they felt let down after the first attack at Otahuhu because police did not increase surveillance of other mosques.