WATCH: The moment thieves target Capital mosque

This is the moment that thieves targeted a mosque in the Capital,

Two masked and tooled-up raiders are seen tip-toeing up stairs after prising open a locked door to the Shahjalal centre in Annandale Street Lane.

However, the men were thwarted by an imam who was having a nap in his office after late prayers in the early hours last Friday.

“The most worrying thing was how these two had crowbars and other stuff,” said mosque committee member Foysol Choudhury

A screengrab from the video.

Footage captured on the mosque’s CCTV cameras initially shows the men arriving in a vehicle outside. “Two guys come in a car, pull in front of the mosque and there’s a big bang as they break in through the door,” said Mr Choudhury. “It was double-locked and had a mortice lock on but they had a crowbar and another tool like what’s used in roadworks.”

Police have now launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh were called to an address in Annandale Street Lane around 01.55am on Friday, August 10 following reports of a break-in. Inquiries are ongoing.”