After London attack, UK's May says terrorists bound by single 'evil ideology'

After attack that killed 7 in London, British PM says the extremist Islamic ideology is one of the greatest challenges the world currently faces.

By DANIEL ALTMAN
Updated: JUNE 4, 2017 14:27
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after an attack on London Bridge and Borough Market left 7 people dead and dozens injured in London, Britain, June 4, 2017. (photo credit: REUTERS/KEVIN COOMBS)
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after an attack on London Bridge and Borough Market left 7 people dead and dozens injured in London, Britain, June 4, 2017.
(photo credit: REUTERS/KEVIN COOMBS)
Britain once again fell victim to a brutal terrorist attack, "the third terrorist attack Britain has experienced in the last three months," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a speech at Downing Street on Sunday morning, following the attack that took the lives of seven people in London overnight.
May said that "terrorism breeds terrorism and perpetrators are inspired to attack," claiming that they are "bound together by the single evil ideology" of radical Islam. May added that the extremist ideology "is a perversion of Islam and a perversion of the truth."
The British PM said that the attackers are copying one another and that the nation cannot pretend that the way things are can continue. "Defeating this ideology is one of the great challenges of our time."
She stated that the Internet provides a platform to spread hate and that a global effort must be made to crack down on the dissemination of this hatred. She also said that there is too much tolerance for extremism in Britain. 
May commended the courage of the police for their quick response to the attack as well as to the greater public who demonstrated courage by defended not only themselves but others.
British security agencies have managed to disrupt five attacks since the Westminster attack that killed five people in March, however Britain's counter terrorism strategies must be reviewed, and if needed restructured to deal with the growing threat, May said.
Cell phone videos show people running for safety after London attack (credit: REUTERS)
Despite noting that both of the UK's major political parties have temporarily ceased campaigning ahead of elections set for Thursday, May asserted that "violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process, so those campaigns will resume in full tomorrow and the General Election will go ahead as planned on Thursday."
She stated that British society cannot be segregated but must function as "one truly united kingdom," and that pluralistic values that Britain holds are superior to the preachers of hate.
"We must come together," May said. "United we will take on and defeat our enemies."


Related Tags
Islamism