London,
16
November
2015
|
11:34
Europe/London

Joint statement on the Paris terrorist attacks

Monday 16 November 2015

Leader of Camden Council, Councillor Sarah Hayward and Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Claire-Louise Leyland issue the following statement:

"On behalf of Camden Council and all residents of the borough, we unreservedly condemn the monstrous terrorist attacks carried out in Paris this weekend and send our heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and to the people of France.

"Camden knows some of the pain and anguish felt today by the people of Paris. The attacks of 7/7 scarred our borough and provoked the same powerful emotions in its residents.

"The terrorists who attacked Paris, like those who carried out attacks in Camden, seek to use those powerful emotions to destroy our peaceful and tolerant societies.

Through their barbarous acts they hope to incite feelings of anger and hatred in the hearts of ordinary people and sow suspicion across religious and cultural lines.

"They aim to drive a wedge between us, creating a septic space where mistrust and fear can fester.

"We must be united in our determination to defeat them.

"We must remember that, despite their claims, the groups responsible for recent attacks in Paris, Beirut and elsewhere follow a hateful and perverted ideology and do not represent the overwhelming majority of Muslims across the world.

"We must ensure the anger caused by these attacks is directed at those responsible and not at innocent Muslims within our local community and elsewhere.

"And we must remember too that the horror unleashed in Paris is but a pale shadow of that inflicted on innocent communities across Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, where those infected with this ideology hold sway, and from which millions of ordinary Muslim refugees are fleeing.

"As an expression of our compassion for those directly affected by Friday’s attacks and as a gesture of solidarity with the people of France, we intend to begin this evening’s meeting of Full Council by observing a minute’s silence."