25 JANUARY 2003, Page 28

Mob-handed mosque raid

From Mrs Richard de Graaff-Hunter Sir: I realise that there is a serious crisis in the UK over the possible use of ricin by terrorists, but surely a more diplomatic method could have been used in the 'search' of the Finsbury mosque and its outbuildings. Would the same tactics have been used if a suspected terrorist had sought sanctuary in St Paul's Cathedral?

The British — of whom I am one — are creating terrorists, not preventing them. This raid must have caused irreparable damage in our relations with the Muslim community. A mosque is just as holy as a cathedral.

Erica de Graaff-Hunter

Majorca, Spain