Police step up patrols at mosques

A tower rises above a mosque in Butetown, Cardiff

South Wales Police have stepped up patrols near mosques as the death toll in the London bombings rose above 50.

Police stressed, however, that their action was not in response to any specific threat.

A leading Iraqi in Wales said he did not believe the London attack would provoke a backlash against Muslims.

Harith Ibrahim, chairman of the Iraqi Community Association in Wales, believes al-Qaeda was behind the blasts which killed more than 50.

South Wales Police say they will also maintain a high-visibility presence throughout the force area on Friday.

I think they want to tell people that they are still there Harith Ibrahim on al-Qaeda

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has joined other political and religious leaders in warning that people must not seek "retribution" against members of any community by taking the law into their hands.

Asked if he thought there would be a backlash, Mr Ibrahim said: "I don't think so."

Mr Ibrahim, of Cardiff, who has seen the aftermath of such attacks on visits to his home country, said of the London bombings: "I was very, very upset.

"We had that experience in Iraq - they are cowards, because they don't face you, and they are killers. They come in the dark."

He believed al-Qaeda was sending a message in London: "I think they want to tell people that they are still there."

'Barbaric acts'

We would let them win if we allowed this sort of incident to cause more hatred Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith

There are up to 700 Iraqis in Wales, and in a statement, their association said: "We are in solidarity with the British people against the barbaric acts of these terrorists groups.

"We are in a united front with the British people against terrorism in Iraq and worldwide. We believe the attack is against the working class, innocent people and civilised societies world wide."

On Friday, Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith and Saleem Kidwai, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Wales, were united in their condemnation of the attacks.

Mr Kidwai told BBC Wales: "Terrorism has got no religion. All Muslims throughout Wales and Britain will pray today, Friday, our special day, for the people".

Archbishop Smith said: "The disaster would be - and we would let them win - if we allowed this sort of incident to cause more hatred."

As prayers for the dead and injured were said at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan said the attacks had "shocked people from all religious communities and of none".

Police say there are no specific threats against mosques

The Reverend Carl Cooper, bishop of St Davids, said prayers would be offered for all involved over the weekend in the west Wales city's cathedral and churches throughout the diocese.

"I have been impressed by the resilience and bravery of those in London yesterday," said Mr Cooper.

"Their determination in not allowing such seeming acts of terrorism to undermine their lives is commendable."

Friday night's race meeting at Chepstow, south Wales, will be preceded by a minute's silence for those killed and injured.

Major events in Wales are due to be staged as planned over the weekend, including parades in Cardiff and Bangor on Sunday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of World War II.

Among those due to be in Cardiff on Sunday are the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Sunday's REM concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will also go ahead, although the group have postponed their show scheduled for Hyde Park, London, on Saturday for a week.