Tooting MP Sadiq Khan urged his followers to challenge the ‘poisonous ideology’ of extremism in the wake of an isolated Leytonstone attack on Saturday night using the hashtag #YouAintNoMuslimBruv.
The London mayoral candidate, a practising Muslim, echoed the defiant message shouted by an onlooker at a knife-wielding man who reportedly claimed ‘this is for Syria’ before attacking three people at Leytonstone Tube station.
He said: “To defeat extremism we must directly challenge their poisonous ideology.”
To defeat extremism we must directly challenge their poisonous ideology #YouAintNoMuslimBruv https://t.co/MTtZ4XjjoS pic.twitter.com/YK9dcrMCu0
— Sadiq Khan MP (@SadiqKhan) December 6, 2015
The hashtag echoes the footage from the attack where an onlooker is heard shouting: “You ain’t no Muslim bruv.”
The putdown has since been adopted prolifically by social media users condemning the attack.
#YouAintNoMuslimBruv is another example of why Britain is Great, the majority of people know these terrorists are sullying the name of Islam — Scott Coleman (@scottlufc19) December 7, 2015
#YouAintNoMuslimBruv If you are a terrorist, you arent a muslim, a christian, a hindu or a buddhist. No religion promotes violence
— Wasay Ashraf (@WasayAshraf) December 6, 2015
Mr Khan’s mayoral contender, Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith, sent out a message of thanks to police.
“Big thanks to the police for bringing terrifying events at Leytonstone to an end.
“We are all indebted to them.”
Big thanks to the police for bringing terrifying events at Leytonstone to an end. We are all indebted to them.
— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) December 6, 2015
Police are continuing to appeal for footage and information after a 56-year-old man was stabbed and two others injured in Leytonstone tube station at around 7pm on Saturday evening.
A suspect, who was Tasered by police at the scene, remains in custody while the incident is investigated further by counter terrorism officers.
The incident is being treated as an act of terrorism.
