Walthamstow: 'Muslims should march against terrorism'

Speaking at Monday's meeting of Walthamstow West Community Council, Cllr Bob Wheatley said Muslims should show solidarity against terrorism by marching in the borough's streets.

He said: "The Muslims must make a stand that they are against this kind of behaviour. They have to show us they are against terrorism by speaking out and by saying what they think."

Cllr Afzal Akram, portfolio holder for community safety, said: "Speaking as a Muslim and as someone who was brought up in Waltham Forest, I think the Muslim community has responded in the right way.

"If the community did march, it could be hijacked. I think we have done exactly what we should by not demonstrating."

Faisal Raja, chaplain of the Waltham Forest Association of Muslim Professionals, said: "We should open up our homes and mosques to others so that people can see that Muslims are normal people who work, eat, sleep and sometimes speak the same language."

Earlier in the meeting, Borough Commander Mark Benbow said in a statement that the effects of terrorism would remain in the borough for at least two or three years because the suspects' trials would take that long. He appealed for the community to remain vigilant but he praised residents for their efforts so far.

The police plan to increase patrols by street wardens and Safer Neighbourhood teams, which Chief Supt Benbow said had been highly successful.

Cllr Akram praised the way Waltham Forest has handled the recent events and said he was pleased that the council had responded quickly to events.

He added that the council planned to work with schools to ensure that their curriculums will receive support before students return from their summer holidays and there is a plan to research ways young people can talk to each other.

"If a pupil is given the task of what did I do over the summer holidays' and writes about the police cordoning off nearby houses, we have to offer appropriate support," he said.