FLOWERS A SYMBOL OF LOVE
Muslim group hands out roses at scene of attacks
LONDONERS AND tourists were handed flowers as a symbol of love at London Bridge - the site of the latest terrorist attack in the UK.
A group of British Muslims gave 3,000 roses to people on the bridge in a demonstration of solidarity following the van and knife rampage that left eight people dead and dozens injured.
“After the events of last weekend we are making a symbolic gesture of love for the communities affected by the attack,” said Zakia Bassou, one of the organisers of yesterday’s event. “The whole concept is we are not going to let London Bridge, or any bridge, fall down.”
Londoner Elida Ercolano was visibly emotional after receiving her rose.
“I think it’s lovely, it’s what London is actually about as a city,” she said.
“It’s what people should remember despite what’s gone on. It’s a great symbol and of nothing else it’s bringing people together. It’s very easy to believe the fear but boil it down and we are actually, in the main, good people and we should remember that.”
June Collis, from Gillingham, Dorset, said it was “beautiful and lovely to see this group come out and share their love against all the horrible things that have happened”.
“Muslims need to speak up and go against the extremists,” she added.
“This is a good way of speaking up for themselves. Let’s just hope we don’t see any more of these horrible killings.”
David Hackett, visiting the capital from Durham, said he found the event “very touching”.
“It’s great to see people giving such a beautiful thing to demonstrate the love people have for each other,” he said.
“It’s a strong, powerful message in such a poignant place, given recent events.”
The 1,000 Roses London project paid for the roses through a crowdfunding campaign and bought the flowers at Zara Floral in East Grinstead. Fundraising is continuing and the group is planning to hold another rally in the future.
It came as detectives investigating the London Bridge attack released images of the terrorists’ blood-spattered fake suicide belts.
The phoney bombs were simply disposable water bottles wrapped in silver and black tape and attached to leather belts, although they were designed to create “maximum fear”, police said.
Attackers Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba each wore one of the bogus explosive devices when they launched a van and knife rampage that killed eight people and injured dozens more.
Metropolitan Police Commander Dean Haydon praised the bravery of the police officers and members of public who tackled the three – despite the possibility they could have been killed in an explosion.
He said: “I have not seen this tactic in the UK before where terrorists create maximum fear by strapping fake explosives to themselves. Anyone who saw them on the night would have thought they were genuine.”
Butt, 27, Zaghba, 22 and Redouane, 30, were still wearing the belts when they were shot dead by armed officers within eight minutes of their marauding attack beginning.
Mr Haydon said it was hard to speculate to what end the attackers wore the belts, although it may have been to take hostages or as a defensive strategy.
I think it’s lovely, it’s what London is actually about as a city Londoner Elida Ercolano who was left very emotional by the gesture.