A message of reassurance and solidarity with Nottingham’s Muslim community has been issued by the City Council following the terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Councillor Toby Neal, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, said: “These horrific attacks have outraged people in Nottingham and across the world. They are a crime against humanity as a whole but their impact will obviously be felt most by Muslim communities.
“The people behind these attacks want to divide us and spread fear. We won’t let that happen, certainly not in Nottingham where people have always got along whatever their background or religion.
“We want our Muslim communities to know that Nottingham stands together with them. We will be working with the Police to do all we can to provide reassurance at this time through officer presence around mosques.
“We will always take all hate crime extremely seriously and will continue to work with the Police and other agencies to tackle hate and terrorism, including that of the far right.”
Nottingham Council of Mosques has said that it stands in solidarity with the victims and their families.
Dr Amjad Aziz, the president of the Council of Mosques, said: “I have no words to express my sorrow on the brutal terrorist attacks on innocent people whilst praying Jummah (Friday) prayers in Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. My prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Joint secretary, Ahmed Peerbhai, said: “This massacre is a stark reminder of Islamophobia and right-wing extremism. Terrorists seek to divide us but we stand together in condemnation of all forms of terror.”