The bombings that have killed at least 200 people and grievously wounded hundreds more in Madrid on Thursday March 11 are callous and criminal acts. The Muslim Council of Britain condemns these atrocities totally and unequivocally.

“The coordinated blasts at the Atocha rail station in the centre of the Spanish capital and at other stations were deliberate and pre-meditated atrocities that were designed to inflict death and destruction on a massive scale,” said Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

Mr Sacranie went on to say: "The hearts of Muslims and all peoples of conscience go out to families of those whose loved ones have been murdered and those who have been wounded in these appalling atrocities. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Spanish people at this time of shock and grief.”

The MCB also condemns the use of the term ‘Islamic terrorists’ as used by Channel 4 and other media to describe these clearly evil people who carried out these heinous crimes. To attempt to link these inhuman and barbaric atrocities to the teachings of Islam and the Qur’an is also a crime that is feeding into the demonisation of Islam and Muslims. By focussing all the time on the "pet" demons it is possible that we will allow the real perpetrators to go free, to return again.

“It is the fervent hope of the MCB that the real organisers and perpetrators of these monumental crimes against humanity will soon be identified and held to account. We urge all concerned to exercise the greatest circumspection in dealing with such crimes against humanity which affect everyone in our world community,” said Iqbal Sacranie.

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