THE Gazette has received the following messages from faith groups in the borough after the attack in Woolwich on Wednesday.

THE executive of Hillingdon Inter Faith Network (HIFN) are shocked and saddened by the murder of a young man at the Woolwich barracks. We want to reiterate together with all people of peace that such acts of violence and terror have no place in our society.

Our heartfelt condolences, prayers and sympathy reach out to the victim's family and friends.
Those who committed this act of violence linked their actions to the religion of Islam.  Within hours, major national Islamic bodies condemned this act in their strongest terms emphasising that this is a total contradiction of the teachings of Islam. HIFN would like to add their support to this statement.

As faiths together in Hillingdon, we share a commitment to a peaceful, safe and just society and urge everyone to unite in strengthening our community bonds and working together for a greater understanding and natural support of one another at this difficult time.
Duncan Struthers - chairman
Mike Gettleson - vice-chairman
Amir Ahmed
Daniel Otieno-Ndale
Anil Mitra

THOUSANDS of members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community will be congregating for Friday prayers and will also condemn the barbaric murder of Drummer Lee Rigby by extremists on Wednesday.

The gathering of British Muslims from across the country will take place in London at western Europe's largest mosque. Worshippers will offer prayers for Drummer Lee Rigby and his family and express solidarity against extremism.

Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community UK, said: "We stand united with the rest of the country in sharing the deep sorrow and pain following the horrific senseless attack on Wednesday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Drummer Lee Rigby.

"We hope that the perpetrators of this crime, that is based on a twisted and warped ideology, are brought to justice.
"Islam is a religion of compassion and peace; a religion which considers the killing of an individual akin to killing the whole of humankind.

"Such acts of violence, therefore, have absolutely no place in Islam and can never be justified."
Bilal Khan
Ahmadiyya Muslim Association
Royal Lane
Hullingdon