Prime Minister David Cameron has declined to condemn recent terrorist attacks targeted at three mosques in West Midlands.The Prime Minister is “concerned by the recent events”, a spokesman for Downing Street replied when asked Monday by the Editor of The Muslim News, Ahmed J Versi, why the Prime Minister had not condemned the attacks. He added that “the Home Secretary has issued a statement” about viable explosive devices left at three mosque sites.
The spokesman was further asked was Cameron not concerned that large number of Muslim worshippers would have died or being injured near Tipton mosque if the mosque had not changed the prayer time from 1pm to 2pm. The bomb exploded at 1pm when hundreds of Muslims would have been going to the mosque.
It has been common policy by successive governments to condemn all terrorist attacks from whatever source and for whatever reason. But Home Secretary, Theresa May, has also not issued any statements, instead she wrote an article for a Pakistani newspaper on the attacks.
“Surely the Prime Minister has to show sympathy with the Muslim community at the time when they are under attack and bombs have been used which would have killed large number of Muslims,” Versi said. “There is concern in the Muslim community that the PM is not concerned about the welfare of the Muslims at such a time.”
West Midlands Police is investigating the three bomb attacks including a suspected nail bomb attack near a Tipton mosque on July 12. The bomb sprayed nails and debris into the air, wrecking vehicles and smashing windows.
Explosive material and debris were found next to Wolverhampton Central Mosque on July 18. A bomb had exploded on June 28, when police were called in but could not find any bomb materials then. Another bomb exploded outside Aisha Mosque in Walsall on June 21. No one was injured in these attacks.
Two Ukrainian men, aged 22 and 25, were arrested in Small Heath, Birmingham on July 19. They were being questioned on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism following blasts near the Tipton mosque and the Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre in the Caldmore area of Walsall. 22-year-old was released last night without charge.
The 25-year-old was further arrested on July 20, on suspicion of the murder of 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem. He was murdered returning from night prayers in Small Heath, Birmingham on April 29.
Residents in Tipton believed the attack had also been timed to coincide with the day of the funeral of Drummer Rigby in Bury. Since the murder of Lee Rigby, over 20 mosques and Islamic centres have been attacked.
– The Muslim News, UK press release
