Terrorist’s mother vows to tackle extremism

The mother of one of the London Bridge terrorist attackers has said she will do all she can to prevent the spread of Islamist extremism, and defended the decision of imams in the UK not bury her son.

Valeria Collina, the mother of Youssef Zaghba, said she had “no words” for the eight people killed and 48 injured after the 22-year-old, together with Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane, launched their attack on Saturday.

Ms Collina said Zaghba grew increasingly serious after moving to London and recalled how he had pleaded with her to move to Syria.

Ms Collina said that although she was experiencing a personal tragedy, she almost felt ashamed to accept her own grief in the wake of the atrocity.

Reflecting on the victims of the attack, Ms Collina, who said she supported the Italian police’s decision to monitor her son, said: “I don’t even have the courage to compare my pain to theirs. It’s as if I were ashamed to say, ‘I’m also a mother, I’m also suffering.’

“I don’t know if there is any sense in asking for forgiveness, but if there was, I would ask for it. If there is anything I can do I will, because the words do not come easily to me, because it’s such a horrible thing.” 0 Youssef Zaghba was among the three attackers