Over 130 imams condemn London Bridge attack, refuse to bury attackers

Muslim leaders said their actions were completely at odds with the teachings of Islam

More than 130 imams in Britain refused to offer Islamic burials to the three London Bridge attackers who killed seven people and wounded 50 others.

"We will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer for the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege," the Muslim leaders said on Monday in a statement posted on the social media.

The statement added: "This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam."

Religious leaders of all backgrounds condemned the attack which killed seven and injured 47 on Saturday evening when three men rammed a rental van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then randomly stabbed revellers near Borough Market.

A panel of speakers at the East London Mosque said they would work to combat extremists' "twisted narrative and their perversion" of religion, the Independent reported.

"Once again we come together, to stand united against those who try to divide us," said the Chairman of East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre, Muhammad Habibur-Rahman.

"The cold-blooded murder of innocent people in London on Saturday evening will not succeed in driving us apart."

Worshippers at a mosque attended by one of the attackers condemned the "evil" atrocity as investigations continued into their background and links.

Police named all the three attackers as Pakistan-born Briton Khuram Butt (27), Moroccan-Libyan pastry chef Rachid Redouane (30) and Youssef Zaghba, a 22-year-old Italian national of Moroccan descent.

Leaders of the Jabir Bin Zayd Islamic Centre in Barking, a few minutes walk from attacker Butt's family home in London, said their thoughts and prayers were with the victims and their families.

A man coming out of prayers from a local mosque said he hoped the local Muslim community would not be demonised in Britain.

"They [attackers] are deranged, mentally disturbed."

Another worshipper leaving the mosque said the terrorists were "not Muslims".

The sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday morning, who said the terrorists were "perverting the truth" of Islam.