Muslims fear further acts of revenge as backlash

Muslim leaders are bracing themselves for more acts of "revenge" after revelations that the London bombings were suicide attacks carried out by British citizens.

Mosques were targeted in racist incidents over the weekend, including two fire-bombings of Islamic buildings in Leeds and Bradford.

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the British Muslim Parliament, said he was concerned that some people would be led to believe that all Muslims were capable of suicide bombings. "It is something that the Muslim community feared the most - that these people implicated in the attack may have been homegrown," he said. "People will start to draw the wrong conclusion and say that perhaps every Muslim is like them."

He said that Thursday's attacks were made by a group of "lunatics". "This attack was against all human values. We must show restraint and stand together because as far as ordinary Muslims are concerned we are all together in this fight."

Colin Cramphorn, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, said he was aware that racists might seek to exploit public concerns about the threat from terrorism. "I urge the public to reject any form of extreme response. We cannot afford to let those who seek to undermine our society succeed."

On Sunday, a mosque in Norwich, in eastern England, became the seventh Islamic building since the London bombings to be attacked.

Norwich mosque committee chairman Ustar Ali made light of the attack, and instead condemned the London bombings. "What happened there was carried out by sick, brainwashed people," he said.

The Met Police promised to crack down on anyone involved in "revenge" attacks. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick said there had been several attacks on Asians in London since last week.

He said: "We need people from every community to report incidents of any faith-hate crime and any other hate crime. We will not tolerate a small minority of people who are using these tragic events to stir up hatred.

"Londoners are not attacking each other. They are being united by this terrible tragedy and we need to make sure we all stick together."

- INDEPENDENT