London attack: The Pope's pain and that of a young Muslim

Pope Francis expresses "prayer and solidarity" for the victims killed in Westminster. A young Muslim  apologizes to the victims because terrorists used his religion to cause such violence. Islam "has been taken hostage." Police release the name of the dead attacker: Khalid Massoud, 52, born in Britain. Perhaps he is of Pakistani or Afghan origin. The Islamic State claims him as "one of our soldiers."

London (AsiaNews) - The Islamic State yesterday claimed the London Westiminster attack, which caused the death of five people, injuring dozens. In the evening the London police also released the name of the dead attacker. He is Khalid Massoud, 52, married with children, he was born in Kent and then lived in the West Midlands city of Birmingham. He had a past of involvement in various crimes: robberies, assaults, fights, possession of weapons, offenses against public officials. But he was not known for ties to violent extremism. In recent years he had become "more religious," he participated in the activities of the mosque, and - according to his neighbors - became more sullen and silent.

The Islamic State claims that Massood is one of his "soldiers", although the London police say the man was a "lone wolf." Perhaps to avoid divisions in the multiethnic and multi-religious British community, the police continues to emphasize that Masood was a British citizen, although his name is of Pakistani or Afghan origin.

Pope Francis has expressed "deep sadness" to the British people for the attack in Westminster two days ago. He also assured "prayer and solidarity" to the victims and their families.

The telegram, sent yesterday by Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, to Card. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and president of the bishops of England and Wales, says: " Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and of the injuries caused by the attack central London, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his prayerful solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy. Commending those who have died to the loving mercy of Almighty God, His Holiness invokes divine strength and peace upon their grieving families, and he assures the nation of his prayers at this time."

AsiaNews also received an expression of condolence from a young Muslim, Kamel Abderrhamani, offering his sorrow for the families of the victims and apologies because again terrorism has used the Islamic religion to spread death. "Our religion, he says, is taken hostage and is used for barbarian and criminal purposes."

"In London - says the message - they killed innocent people in my name, as is their habit. It propagates evil under the guise of a legitimate struggle. But since when is killing the innocent a struggle? Everything is confused, I mean the terrorists in their crime, murdering in the name of my religion and the families of the victims accuse me of complicity. What do I have to do? To deny my faith could be a solution. But I cannot deny my faith and the way I walk towards God does not exclude that of others.

To these criminals, I tell them that they do not belong to the same religion, even if they say they are Muslims. My God does not accept that you kill, does not accept that humiliate the innocent, does not accept the bad. Call me what times, do tell God what times, but please, do not kill anyone either in the name of my religion, nor in the name of any other.

Let us live in harmony, let us live together and evolve with all the peoples of the world. Above all, cease to dirty the image of my religion, my culture, of all that is beautiful around me.

I present my condolences to the families of the victims and ask them to forgive us, we too are victims of a barbaric Islamist ideology, who has hijacked our religion and uses it for its own barbarian and criminal end".

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