Cameron condemns attacks on mosques

UK Prime Minister David Cameron insists that he condemns all form of terrorism after remaining silent in the aftermath of a series of attacks on mosques in West Midlands, Central England last month, it was revealed here Monday. He also said the next meeting of anti-extremism taskforce, the Government was going to look into the violence and extremism suffered by Muslims communities, the Muslim News Publication reported here. "I condemn these attacks absolutely, buts more important than condemnation is action," Cameron said after being challenged during a visit to "Jamia Mosque" in Manchester, northern England, as the month of Ramadan drew to a close last Thursday, according to the report obtained by kuna. "I think we can say that this Government has taken action. The Police have acted very robustly in response to these attacks. Also the Government has changed the "PREVENT Strategy" to make sure that is was to combat all forms of extremism and violence, including extremism and violence against the Muslim communities. "I recognise the seriousness of this problem and that's one of the reasons my extremism taskforce at its next meeting will be looking at the problem of violence against Muslim communities themselves," he said after facing criticism by the Muslim community for not being strong enough in his response. A series of attacks against Muslim targets included three terrorist bombings targeted at different mosques in West Midlands in July. When questioned at the time by The Muslim News, why the Prime Minister had not condemned the attacks, his spokesperson simply said Cameron was "concerned by the recent events". "I did, I've condemned all of the bomb attacks against all the mosques and I condemn these attacks utterly," Cameron insisted when challenged at Jamia Mosque. "I think it's very important as I've said, the Police pursue those responsible, it is completely and utterly unacceptable in our country," he added. "I would argue that this Government has done more than any previous government to combat "Islamophobia" in all its forms. We've changed the prevent strategy. We've empowered the police, we've worked with the community to monitor the outbreaks of Islamophobia and I don't rule out taking more steps, and that why I've said my extremism taskforce, the next subject we are going to look into is violence and extremism suffered by Muslims communities themselves." For her part, UK Minister for Faith and Communities, Baroness Warsi, who was also in attendance, responded to criticism of the Prime Minister suggesting that there had been "huge concern at the heart of Government about the attacks on the British Muslim community". She said that she herself had "issued a statement of condemnation immediately after the attacks on mosques" and further added that as part of the Government she worked "incredibly closely on this issue of extremism" with the Prime Minister. A series of attacks took place in parts of Britain against Muslims and mosques after a serving soldier was hacked to death in Woolwich, south east London, in what is being treated as a terrorist attack. Last May, two men, who are Muslim converts, attacked the soldier after they deliberately drove their car at the victim, before getting out with various bladed weapons and launching their crime. They are now facing trial. The Prevent programme is part of the UK government counter-terrorism strategy. It "responds to the ideological challenge the UK faces from terrorism and aspects of terrorism", the British government says. There are around 1.7 million Muslims in the UK, the majority from the Indian sub-continent.