Muslim Council of Britain reflects on 5 years since the Finsbury Park attack
Today marks the fifth year anniversary of the Finsbury Park attack, where Darren Osborne rammed his van into worshippers in the holy month of Ramadan.
Secretary-General, Zara Mohmmed said:
“Five years ago today we were all shocked to see perhaps the first London attack directed against Muslims. We were stunned, but not surprised that such a criminal act could take place outside a mosque that serves as a sanctuary and community hub.
This attack is a reminder of what deep-seated hatred can do and the risks posed by extreme right-wing groups. They feed off the rising atmosphere of Islamophobia that exists in our society.
Today we pay tribute and thanks to the local community who demonstrated calm and dignity in the face of such challenges. They were joined by friends from all faiths and none who showed their solidarity and love to fellow British Muslims. We must maintain that spirit and continue to keep hearts united.
Five years on, we must also remain vigilant. Belatedly mosques are now being given the resources to secure their facilities, which we welcome. But we must also continue to confront the attitudes and disinformation that persists about Muslims which allow Islamophobia to flourish.
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