Tower Hamlets mayor and East London Mosque leaders condemn London Bridge atrocity
Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs - Credit: Mike Brooke
Politicians and faith leaders are urging the community in east London to “stand together united” in the wake of Saturday’s terrorist atrocity at London Bridge just days before the general election.
Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs has joined east London Mosque leaders Muslim leaders urging the public not to let the terrorists disrupt the democratic life of London.
“The incident on Saturday shows we’re all vulnerable and must stay vigilant. But it shows how resilient and united we are,” the mayor told the Advertiser.
“Saturday’s atrocity shows we’re all vulnerable and must stay vigilant,” the mayor told the Advertiser.
“But it also shows how resilient and united we are. The attack on London Bridge was a criminal, cowardly act. But the attitude of the people is that we will not be stopped going about our normal lives.
“The general election going ahead is right thing to do.”
A ‘Prevent’ programme has been running in Tower Hamlets schools to combat the threat of youngsters becoming radicalised and to combat exploitation which Mayor Biggs fears “can be the routes to radicalisation”.
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He is attending tonight’s a mass vigil outside City Hall on Monday evening with the East London Mosque director Dilo War Khan, which followed a people’s solidarity news conference in Whitechapel with the Met’s Tower Hamlets police commander Sue Williams, UK Citizens founder Neil Jameson, Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum chair Alan Green, the Rector of Bethnal Green, and other faith leaders including Rabbi Daniel Smith.
The mosque has been opposing a radical group that once operated “Muslim patrols” in Brick Lane.
Mosque spokesman Salman Farzi said: “It’s disturbing that this group is linked to what happened on Saturday.
“We have been challenging them since the 1990s because they’re trying to poison the minds of our youngsters.
“London Bridge is just a stone’s throw from Whitechapel and the terrorist attack has saddened and angered our community—there’s no justification for killing innocent people.”
The mosque authorities are stressing their “solidarity with One London” and condemn the atrocity as “a breach if Islamic faith”.