Bomber has failed to divide city, says Mike Haines

The brother of murdered aid worker David Haines said the Manchester Arena bomber had failed to divide the city.

Since his brother’s death at the hands of terrorists in Syria, Mike Haines has travelled the world speaking to religious leaders and schools as part of his Global Acts Of Unity campaign.

Mr Haines said: “This has been a cowardly and repulsive act, specifically targeting woman and young woman,” he said.

“From what I know about Islam, I know that it teaches not to target women and children in this way, so he has already proven to the world that he is not a true Muslim.”

He added: “He has tried to cause division, but what he has done has had the opposite effect.

“From what I have seen today, Manchester is pulling together.”

During his visit to the city, Mr Haines met members of the Foundation For Peace charity.

The group was set up by the parents of 12year old Tim Parry with support by the family of three-year-old Johnathan Ball.

Both children were killed as a direct result of an IRA bombing in Warrington in 1993.

The Global Acts Of Unity campaign was launched three years ago, after former Perth Academy pupil David was murdered in a public act of terror that sent shockwaves around the world.

After the terrorist strike on Westminster Bridge in March, Mike teamed up with Brendan Cox, husband of murdered MP Jo.

The pair issued a plea to “drown out the voices of hatred”.

Mike has so far spoken to more than 10,000 people as part of his peace campaign.