M Ghazali Khan | Caravan Daily
LONDON — Muslim groups in UK have strongly condemned the Saturday night terror attack on the London Bridge that killed seven people. Secretary General of umbrella body Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Harun Khan, said, “I am appalled and angered by the terrorist attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market, in my home city. These acts of violence were truly shocking and I condemn them in the strongest terms.”
He added, “Muslims everywhere are outraged and disgusted at these cowards who once again have destroyed the lives of our fellow Britons. That this should happen in this month of Ramadan, when many Muslims were praying and fasting only goes to show that these people respect neither life nor faith.
“My prayers are with the victims and all those affected. I commend the work of our emergency services working hard to keep us safe and cope with the ensuing carnage. As ever we urge everyone to assist the authorities so that these criminals can be apprehended and brought to justice.”
President of Muslim Association of Britain Omer El-Hamdoon said, “Our thoughts are with those who have been injured in these incidents and our condolences go out to all the families who have lost loved ones as a result. As members of British Society, we must continue to condemn all acts of terror, and we must not allow these criminals to spread hatred and fear; and we must foil their attempts to divide us.”
Seven people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market.
Health officials said at least 30 victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Three male suspects were killed by police within eight minutes after the first report of the attacks, according to Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, who said authorities are treating it as a “terror incident” as they proceed with a massive operation in central London. One officer sustained serious non-life-threatening injuries when he responded to the attack, Rowley said.
Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the “barbaric acts” he described as a “deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night”.
Reports of a stabbing in Vauxhall was later determined to be unrelated to the London Bridge and Borough Market.
Prime Minister Theresa May suspended her election campaign and returned to the U.K. capital and will chair a high-level security meeting Sunday.
“The terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism,” she said in a statement.
National Rail wrote in a tweet that “trains unable to call at London Bridge, Waterloo East, London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street”.
The UK has been the site of deadly terror attacks in recent months.
British national Khalid Masood reportedly carried out an attack in March by mowing down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before attacking police outside of the parliament building.
Three civilians were killed on the bridge and one police officer was stabbed to death outside the parliament. Dozens of people were injured in the attack.
Masood was shot dead moments after the attack.
More recently, 22 victims were killed when suspected suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device May 22 in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena at the end of a pop concert. Fifty-nine others were injured.
The terror threat level was upgraded following that attack to “critical” – which meant a terror attack was imminent, but it was downgraded to “severe” after a few days.
In a tweet early Sunday, London police asked the public to “remain calm, but be alert & vigilant”.
In the US, President Donald Trump tweeted support for London shortly after the attacks Saturday, just as he administration announced it would ask the Supreme Court to allow a controversial travel ban critics say discriminates against Muslims.
“We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety,” Trump wrote.
He later tweeted, “Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there – WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!”.–With inputs from Anadolu Agency
