A Muslim community in Wembley has condemned the terror attack in London Bridge urging the government to ‘find’ and ‘punish’ criminals severely.
Members of the Ahmadiyya Association for the Propoagation of Islam (AAPI), based in Stanley Avenue, said they “condemn without reservation the murder of innocent men and women in London on Saturday night”.
Seven people were killed and 21 critically injured following the terror attack at around 10pm on Saturday evening.
A van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge before three men jumped out in Borough Market and randomly stabbed people including four police officers.
The three men, wearing fake suicide bomb vests, were shot dead by police.
A statement from AAPI said: “We urge the government to find these criminals and to punish them severely. The sole criterion should be whether a person has committed a crime and not what label such a person applies to himself.
“We strongly urge the government to take all possible actions to safeguard the citizens of this country.
“In words of the Holy Quran: ‘For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is no contention between us and you.’
“We will not be cowed by these cowardly and murderous attacks.
“We will not be divided by them. We will not despair. Instead, bravely, in unity, and with hope we shall fight these criminals.”
Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, also condemned the attack. He said: “We have all been horrified by the murderous and absolutely callous London Bridge attacks. We were all hoping that we’d never see such things on our streets again.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all the innocent people who tragically lost their lives and with their friends and family and everyone affected or injured.”
He added: “Brent is a very diverse and tolerant community where the vast majority of people share the same values and respect and celebrate our differences. But we must be alert to any attempt to divide us.
“Community cohesion means a rejection of hate of any sort. We cannot sit quietly by. Visit brent.gov.uk/timetotalk for more information.
People are asked to report suspicious activity through the anti-terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321.
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