Unity is only way to defeat terrorists

Akey weapon in the deployment of pure terrorism – the targeting of innocent bystanders for random mass murder – is the possibility that the society under attack tears itself apart from within.

The theory is that this might succeed if people from different backgrounds or beliefs turn on each other in vengeance.

The shocking events at Finsbury Park revealed that an attacker described as a “large white man” knocked down Muslim worshippers near a mosque and was heard to shout, “I’m going to kill Muslims”. Other witness reports said he was waving and smiling during and after the carnage.

Muslim leaders condemned the outrage as the worst case of Islamophobia during a recent upsurge of attacks against Muslims.

Tension have rocketed after the murderous attacks on innocent people in London an Manchester.

Scotland seems to be detached from events in English cities, but the threat posed by yesterday’s events brings a new dimension to potential dangers of an escalation in Muslim attacks crossing into Scotland, which is why Police Scotland revealed it was stepping up anti-terrorist activity.

There are many thriving Muslim communities across Scotland, including Aberdeen, and any anxiety within them is only natural.

The Finsbury Park incident will be seized on by terrorist leaders as a potential turning point, but a united front from all the UK’s diverse communities, including a joint approach to rooting out extremists on both sides, will prove that is not the case.

“A united front from all the UK’s diverse communities will prove that is not the case”