Smash hit

"Once the profiles of the perpetrators of the London bombings are fully established and made known to the public, the Muslim communities of the United Kingdom will be under obligation to assess whether there was something we could have done to prevent these attacks. More importantly, we need to assess whether there are things we need to, or must, do to help prevent such attacks in the future."

The Muslim Association also began to address the question to which none at present has the answer - what can have turned apparently secure, happy, cricket-loving young British men to fanatics more in love with death than life. While the war in Iraq is being blamed by many, others are not satisfied by this because 9/11, the worst terrorist atrocity in history, happened before the war.

"Community leaders, clerics, journalists, academics, politicians and decision-makers need to face up to the causes of radicalisation of the Muslim youth in the United Kingdom.," the association said. "The question we all have to answer is, what can we do to prevent such radicalisation, if the real cause is anger over our foreign policy, as has been repeatedly suggested? Once the investigations are completed and the jigsaw puzzle is fully resolved, we shall be in a better position to diagnose more accurately what went wrong."

From the Islamic Cultural Centre at the London Central Mosque came a reminder that Islam expressly forbids the use of violence against civilians and innocents and called on all Muslims to cooperate fully with the investigations. Dr Ahmed Al-Dubayan, Director General, said that he condemned unequivocally the attacks, and urged all Muslims to support unanimously the Government's anti-terrorist programmes.

The Leeds Faiths Forum, consisting people of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths, urged in the strongest language possible that religious leaders resist any temptation to associate Islam or any other faith with terrorism.

"It is imperative that we endeavour to create and maintain good relations with our neighbours, and thus we must be clear and strong in declaring peace, justice and humanity," forum members said in a statement.

"We resolve to continue to work together, strengthening the trust between us and to work for the peace and well being of all the people of Leeds. These bombs are contrary to the teachings of each of our faith communities."

Besides organising their own act of remembrance tomorrow at midday, the religious leaders in Leeds are asking members of all faith communities to approach their local Mosques and ask if their presence would be welcome at Friday prayers. "This would be to show our respect for the Muslim faith and as an act of solidarity so that people know that the Muslim Community cannot be isolated and easily threatened by extremist factions at this time," the forum said.

Next Thursday, the Liberal synagogue in St John's Wood will host an interfaith service, involving representatives from the Central Mosque in Regent's Park, the Jewish community and from Christian churches in the St John's Wood area of north London.

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