‘The community was shocked’: British Somalis and the death of David Amess

At least one Somali organisation recorded a big increase in reported hate crimes after Ali Harbi Ali (above) was named as a suspect. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA

When Kahiye Alim, director of the Council of Somali Organisations (CSO), saw reports that the suspected killer of Southend West MP David Amess was of Somali heritage, he was in a state of shock.

Alim was out for dinner on a Friday evening when he heard the news, and could no longer eat. He began to worry about the repercussions the event would have on the British Somali community.