Director Iman Atta said: "This has caused quite a lot of fear within the community.

"They are asking if they are safe, if their children are safe to play outdoors. We have told them to keep calm and to phone the police if they receive one of these letters."

She said a number of the letters had been posted from Sheffield and bore a similarity to letters sent to mosques in the UK and US in May 2017, which were also posted from Sheffield.

"They are inciting violence against the Muslim community," she said.

Labour MP Naz Shah said several of her constituents in Bradford had received the "hate mail" through their doors.

Ms Shah said the letters were an attempt to instill fear but one that would ultimately fail.

"We stand shoulder by shoulder, and stand side by side, because nothing will divide us," she said.

"This is hatred and it just doesn't work. You know, it's what we do."

She said she had spoken to police, and had been told detectives believed they were dealing with a "linked series of offences".

Counter Terrorism Policing North East said it had received reports of "potentially malicious communications sent to individuals across the UK".

A police spokesperson said: "Counter Terrorism Policing North East are coordinating the investigation at this time and will consider any potential links to existing inquiries.

"Anyone with any concerns about a communication they may have received should contact their local police force."

West Yorkshire Police said it had received six reports.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said it was not yet clear whether any criminal allegations relating to the letters had been reported to the force.