LEADERS OF the Muslim community in Dundee met on Saturday to condemn the bombings and pay tribute to victims. Representatives of the city’s three mosques and Pakistani and Bangladeshi organisations were joined in City Square by MPs Jim McGovern and Stewart Hosie, and Councillors Charles Farquhar and Willie Sawers.

Senior Muslims vowed to do all they can to ensure children are not “brainwashed,” as it was suggested the bombers were. After the 9/11 attacks, the Victoria Street mosque discovered extremists targeting Muslim students at Dundee and Abertay Universities. These people were driven out, they said.

There has been no backlash against Muslims in Dundee, but the representatives said there was a fear in their community. Rana Khan, president of the Dundee Pakistan Society, said, “We want to show there is solidarity among the community in Dundee and we condemn these bombings in London.”

Parveen Jamil, chairperson of Dundee Mela who has worked tirelessly to integrate communities, said, “We are very sympathetic with the families and anyone affected by the London bombings. We would like to thank Tony Blair ... as he has handled it very well. From the Muslim community we will not tolerate anything of such a nature in our community.”