Joint Statement from Mayor of Tower Hamlets, community and faith leaders following Woolwich attack

“Following yesterday’s appalling murder in our neighbouring borough of Greenwich, we have today met with police chiefs, senior local authority staff and community and faith leaders to discuss their concerns and re-double our efforts to work together to ensure community cohesion across our borough.

 Obviously we are all as deeply shocked as everyone else and hope that we shall never again witness such terrible scenes in our country.

We are all deeply concerned that far Right extremists in the English Defence League may seek to exploit the situation further. The Mayor has written to both the Home Secretary and the Chief of the Metropolitan Police, setting out our concerns, and reminding them when the EDL last attempted to march through our borough, they were prevented from doing so.

The Police Borough Commander has assured us that there will be an increased police presence across the borough and around key institutions.

The attack carried out near Woolwich Barracks has shocked us all, and we are determined that this senseless act is not used by others as an excuse to ferment trouble elsewhere.

Clearly the perpetrators have since been arrested and the matter is now under police investigation.

We would urge calm and reassure all residents that maintaining harmony in our diverse communities is our top priority.

Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim of this shocking act.”

Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets

Father Alan Green, Chair, Interfaith Forum, and No Place for Hate, Tower Hamlets

Shamsul Hoque, Chair, Council of Mosques, Tower Hamlets

Shaun De Souza Brady, Acting Borough Commander, Metropolitan Police

Neil Jameson, Director, London CitizensDilowar Khan, Director, London Muslim Centre

Glyn Robbins, Chair, United East End

Jack Gilbert, Chair, Rainbow Hamlets

Leon Silver, President, East London Central Synagogue

Shaynul Khan, CVS Tower Hamlets

Abu Bakr , Al-Huda Somali Centre

 

For more info contact

Tower Hamlets Press Office

Tower Hamlets

Email:  communications@towerhamlets.gov.uk

 

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