Hawzah News Agency - A Hartlepool Muslim community has condemned the London Bridge terror attack and expressed its deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.

Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were stabbed to death by convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, at a prisoner rehabilitation conference in London on Friday. Three others were also injured.

Members of the Muslim Community at Nasir Mosque, Hartlepool, offered their “deepest sympathies and condolences” to all those affected by “yet another barbaric and inhumane attack”.

Mr Tahir Selby, Imam of the Nasir Mosque at Brougham Terrace, said “We were shocked and appalled by the brutality and disregard for human life and cannot understand what possesses anyone to do such a terrible thing.

He added: “We held a Peace Seminar only last Sunday to promote peace, justice and harmony and bring people together, but then such terrible acts like this, undo all the efforts that we make to create a peaceful society.

“In my speech about establishing peace through justice, I explained that the religion of Islam has nothing to do with terrorism, it is people who misuse the religion of Islam to promote terrorism.

“The religion of Islam promotes peace and justice and the Holy Qur'an in Chapter 2, verse 257 makes this very clear by stating ‘there should be no compulsion in religion, surely the right way has become distinct from error’.