POLICE say they are continuing to monitor the delivery of malicious communications with the message “Punish a Muslim Day, April 3, 2018” which continue to be received in the Bradford district.

Last Friday Bradford Moor Councillor Riaz Ahmed received such a letter, posted from Sheffield, to his business address in Leeds Road, Bradford.

It is understood six letters had been delivered in the district by the weekend and had been passed to police.

Since then, the North East Counter Terrorism Unit which is heading up the investigation said a further "number" of letters have been handed in but will not reveal the exact amount.

One such letter was received on Wednesday evening at an address in the Rooley Lane area, home of Shaheen Iqbal who runs Ali Baba Carpets, in Arctic Parade, Great Horton.

“My niece, who is 20, opened the letter and panicked. She thought her hands were itching and phoned the police. They arrived with the fire authority and ambulance within five minutes. I was very impressed with the response," said Mr Iqbal.

He added: "I was out at the time and received a call that the emergency services were at my house. When my wife and I got there they would not let us in for an hour while they did forensic tests.

“Fortunately there was nothing with the letter but the police are investigating.

"My suggestion to people is not to panic and simply phone the police if you receive one of these letters.

"The letters are not addressed to anyone in particular so they are not targeting anyone. They are being sent out at random to random addresses across the country."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: West Yorkshire police are aware of concerns in the community about reports of a 'Punish a Muslim' letter received in Bradford on Wednesday evening, and rumours circulating on social media that the letter contained chemicals.

"Early tests show no chemicals were present and the letter has been recovered for forensic examination as part of the wider investigation being led by the North East Counter Terrorism Unit.

"Local police and partners will continue to support victims and provide reassurance to the wider community.

"Victims should contact the police if they receive a letter and do their best to preserve it prior to an officer arriving.

"We are taking these hate crimes extremely seriously and the community can be confident they will get an effective response.”