UNITED KINGDOM: REACTIONS OF WORSHIPPERS AT REGENT'S PARK MOSQUE TO LONDON BOMBINGS

Record ID: 338276

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: REACTIONS OF WORSHIPPERS AT REGENT'S PARK MOSQUE TO LONDON BOMBINGS
  • Date: 8th July 2005
  • Summary: (BN11) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 8, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. CLOSE OF LONDON'S REGENT'S PARK MOSQUE MINARET 0.03 2. PAN FROM DOME TO MINARET OF MOSQUE 0.09 3. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE MOSQUE 0.22 4. CLOSE OF SIGN PINNED TO MOSQUE FENCE READING 'BAGS MAY BE SEARCHED' 0.26 5. VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS ENTERING
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA7C33KSPEH96KZ984EL5JDOJF3
  • Story Text: London Muslims fear backlash after fatal blasts.



    Muslims across Britain prayed on Friday (July 8) for the
    victims of the London bombings blamed on radical
    Islamists, but many feared an anti-Muslim backlash after a
    deluge of abusive messages.

    The Muslim Council of Britain, which represents the
    country's 1.6 million Muslims, said it had received 30,000
    messages of hate via e-mail after the attacks and that its
    computers had been jammed.

    "I had reservations about coming here today in case
    there should be reprisals, but in the same way as Tony
    Blair says, it shouldn't interfere with our daily routine.

    I felt it was best to come along and do what I need to do
    instead of stay at home and hide, which again is taking
    Tony Blair's advice," said on worshipper at London's
    Regent's Park mosque.

    Despite their worries, there was still a high turnout
    at the mosque for Friday prayers.

    The Imam condemned the London attacks during his
    sermon.

    "Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go to the
    victims of yesterday's (July 7) terrible, terrorist attack.

    As citizens and co-workers of this great city, London, we
    share the concerns and fears of fellow Londoners," Sheikh
    Salah Al-Ansari, the Mosque's Imam.

    Faith leaders who met British interior minister Charles
    Clarke on Friday called for a calm response to Thursday's
    attacks, which killed more than 50 people.

    The Islamic Human Rights Commission warned London
    Muslims to stay at home because of fears of retaliation.

    London police chief Ian Blair said the authorities were in
    touch with Muslim leaders and those of other faiths to
    protect symbolic buildings.

    Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned bombers who "act in
    the name of Islam" but said the majority of Muslims, both
    in Britain and abroad, were decent people who opposed
    terrorism.

    Many people in London's Edgware Road -- close to one of
    the underground railway stations that was attacked and an
    area that is home to a large number of Lebanese, Iraqi and
    Egyptian businesses -- feared acts of revenge.

    A previously unknown group, "Secret Group of al Qaeda's
    Jihad in Europe," claimed responsibility for the London
    attacks on a bus and three underground stations.

    The group that claimed responsibility for Thursday's
    attacks said on a Web site they responded to what it
    described as the "massacre carried out by Great Britain in
    Iraq and Afghanistan".

    Many Muslims regard the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq,
    backed by Britain despite broad public opposition, as a
    campaign against their faith. They also accuse the West of
    supporting Israel in its dispute with the Palestinians.

    oy/jrc


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register