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Posted on 11/07/2001 10:18:19 AM PST by BritBulldog

Muslim leaders have pledged to attend a service at the Bradford church attacked by young Asians and apologise to the congregation.

The move by the Council of Mosques comes after a meeting at the home of the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David Smith, for crisis talks following the attack on St Phillip's Church, Girlington.

The Anglican church was stormed by a gang of up to 50 Asian youths who dragged rubbish into the church and set light to it, smashed a stained glass window dating back to 1860, tossed hymn books around and destroyed furniture.

The church's vicar, the Reverend Tony Tooby, was racially abused and had the back windscreen of his car smashed after he tried to flee the baying mob.

Today, the Bishop, who also invited Christians, business leaders, and youth workers to his home last night, said there was unqualified condemnation of the attacks. "It was a long meeting and a very helpful and positive one," he said. And it was decided that representatives from the Council for Mosques should visit St Phillip's service on Sunday to apologise to the congregation for the attacks.

The Bishop said there had been other problems at the church. He said: "We heard that certain uniformed organisations which used St Philip's have found premises elsewhere because of abuse and this is very sad news. "People expressed very open opinions and we will now work together for a better future." Another meeting has been scheduled to take place when plans will be made to raise funds for support for relief work in Afghanistan.

Sher Azam, president for the Council for Mosques, said the Muslim community was giving as much support as it could to all people in Girlington. "Church leaders and members of the Muslim community have condemned the attack," he said. "We will work together to stop these people who are trying to ruin the relationship between the Muslim community and people of other faiths." And Ghulam Rasul, also of the Council for Mosques, said the people who carried out the attack were "sick." "To burn places of worship, churches or mosques, is unthinkable - I don't think these people can ever have gone to these places or have any idea of their value. "We are really sorry about this and share the anger and frustration of the community at what's happened."

But despite his terrifying experience Mr Tooby, 43, said he had no intention of leaving the church he has served for four years. "The relationships between Muslims and Christians around this area are generally very good," he said. "I believe that there is only a small percentage of the Muslim people, like there is in the white communities, who try to destroy anything that's good. "It's a shame but it hasn't affected me and I intend to carry on serving the community I love."

And the man charged with leading policing in the area, Chief Superintendent Phil Read, appealed for calm and urged others to resist "tit-for-tat" attacks. "I would issue a strong appeal for calm," Chief Supt Read said. "This has been an abhorrent, despicable attack in my view, and the church has suffered a pattern of harassment. We are looking at security issues at all places of worship." Ch Supt Read said security at all places of worship had been stepped up in Bradford since September 11. And regular meetings were taking place between the police and representatives of different faith groups to keep the peace in the city despite heightened tensions caused by the war.

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