The horrific and barbaric murder of a British soldier in Woolwich on Wednesday should be unreservedly condemned. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends following this brutal murder. I fully support the police in their efforts to discover whether the two individuals acted alone or whether an extremist group or cell is involved.
As mayor of London, I served this city when it withstood the worst terrorist attack it has ever faced on 7 July 2005. I am proud that Londoners of all faiths – and none – stood united, shoulder to shoulder against terrorism – our unity meant that there were no reprisal attacks against any one community in the immediate aftermath of those murderous bombings. Doing so again is the most effective way to defeat the terrorists' aims.
There will be those who will seek to scapegoat entire communities for this barbaric act. This is what terrorists want, and rely on. For people to feel fear, to turn on each other and to bring down the very essence of London, the most successful melting pot in the history of the world and the city of the free.
Today (Monday 22 April 2013) marks the 20th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a Black student, brutally cut down in his prime and murdered by racists in 1993.
