A mosque has condemned "the growing threat" faced by British Muslims amid the Gaza conflict after hundreds of people were forced to evacuate the building after it received a "threatening" email. 

The East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre (ELM) in Whitechapel has now released a statement after more than 700 worshippers had to leave the building on December 7. 

The Metropolitan Police were called to the mosque at 3.02pm - shortly before its sunset prayer - on December 7 after they were made aware of the "threatening" message.

The building was cleared and searched as a precaution and officers were stood down at 5pm after nothing suspicious was found. 

The mosque described the email as a "serious and credible security threat".

It said in a statement published on its website: "We would like to draw attention to the growing threat faced by British Muslims due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and highlight the need to offer additional levels of support to mosques and Muslim institutions. 

"We want to also applaud our staff and the 700 people using our premises at the time for their swift action. We also thank the Metropolitan Police for their quick and immediate response.  

"The anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian rhetoric that has been used to both justify violence against Palestinians in Gaza and further silence supporters of Palestinian human rights here in the UK and elsewhere has become a source of hatred for a tiny minority to inflict harm on others.

"We condemn anyone who seeks to sow divisions and use the violence in Gaza to channel their hate by targeting Muslims and members of other faith communities."

The Met have yet to confirm whether the incident is being investigated as a hate crime. 

ELM have called upon the Government to increase support of the Muslim community.