We’re a city filled with sorrow but fired by resolve to beat evil
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan fired a defiant message to Islamist extremists yesterday saying: “Your perverse ideology” will never divide Britain.
Mr Khan spoke at a sombre vigil in memory of the seven who perished at the hands of three machete-waving jihadists at the weekend.
On the banks of the Thames in front of thousands of office workers, schoolchildren, police, paramedics, firemen, tourists, faith and community leaders, he said: “We stand together to honour the memories of the innocent lives lost and people injured in a barbaric act on our city and stand in defiance against this cowardly attack on this city and people, its values and our way of life.
“I want to send a clear message to sick and evil extremists who commit these hideous crimes: We will defeat you, you will never win.”
The vigil in Potters Fields Park, close to London Bridge and Borough Market where Saturday night’s atrocity unfolded, saw men, women and children stand together for a minute’s silence for the seven dead and 48 injured, 18 of whom remain in a critical condition in hospitals across the capital.
Against a backdrop of two famous London landmarks, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, Mr Khan joined dignitaries, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick for a short service where the evil ideology of Islamist extremism was forcibly condemned.
People who crammed into the park held flags, clutched flowers and wept as the extent of the attack hit home.
Mr Khan, Ms Rudd and shadow home secretary Diane Abbott then laid wreaths outside nearby City Hall.
To huge applause Mr Khan said: “As a proud and patriotic British Muslim I will say this: You don’t commit these disgusting acts in my name. Your perverse ideology has nothing to do with the true values of Islam and you will never succeed in dividing our city.
“Our city is filled with sorrow and anger but also resolve and determination. This is our city, these are our values and this is our way of life. London will never be broken by terrorism. We will defeat the terrorists.”
The nation will fall silent for a minute to remember the victims of the London terror attack at 11am today.