大象传媒

Good morning. Ten years ago today, Jean Charles de Menezes was killed by police amidst the fear that gripped London following the 7th July London bombings which killed 52, and the subsequent copycat bombings of 21st July.
Four years ago today, Anders Behring Breivik, a Norwegian right-wing extremist, killed 77 people in a double terror attack that included a car bomb in Oslo and a gun attack at a Youth Camp on Utoya Island. There were later to be thwarted copycat attacks inspired by Breivik in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The perpetrators of both the London bombings and the double terror attacks in Norway were fuelled by extremist views, and a sense of superiority of their own position. Both were filled with their sense of right, and held to ideologies of hate which were inspired by the rhetoric of others.
Two of the London bombers gave their justification in frightening video messages, where they stated that they had taken their actions in the name of Islam, and declared themselves to be in opposition to Western Foreign policy.
In the case of Anders Breivik he had written a 1500 page manifesto detailing his political position, within which he listed his many right-wing inspirers. Breivik fought hard not to be declared insane, and analysts described him as having Islamophobic views and a hatred of Islam. He himself said he was protecting Norway and Western Europe from a Muslim takeover, and wrote that his main motive for the attacks was the promotion of his manifesto.
Both perpetrators described themselves as 鈥渟oldiers鈥�.
Our Lord protect us from blind hatred. Grant us the vision of a middle path, and make our hearts merciful to all of mankind. Ameen.