Over 130 Imams, religious leaders refuse to perform funeral prayer for London attackers

The attacks left seven people killed.

Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement: "Imams and religious leaders from across the country and a range of schools of thought have come together to issue a public statement condemning the recent terror attack in London and conveying their pain at the suffering of the victims and their families."

"In an unprecedented move, they have not only refused to perform the traditional Islamic prayer for the terrorist – a ritual that is normally performed for every Muslim regardless of their actions – but also have called on others to do the same," the statement said.

The Muslim leaders, as per the statement, said: "Consequently, and in light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege. This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam.”

The statement was released online on Facebook by Imam Abdullah Hasan of Imams Against Domestic Abuse.

He posted the statement and wrote on Facebook: "Over 130 Imams & Religious Leaders from diverse backgrounds refuse to perform the funeral prayer for London attackers in an unprecedented move."

The third attacker involved in the recent attacks in London city has been identified as Youssef Zaghba, the police confirmed on Tuesday.

"While formal identification is yet to take place, detectives believe he is 22-year-old Youssef Zaghba, from east London. The deceased's family have been informed," Metropolitan Police reported statement.

The police said: "He is believed to be an Italian national of Moroccan descent. He was not a police or MI5 subject of interest."

All three men involved in the attack were confronted and shot dead by armed officers within eight minutes of the first call.

The other two were named yesterday (Monday, 5 June) by detectives as Khuram Shazad Butt, 27, from Barking, was a British citizen who was born in Pakistan; and Rachid Redouane, 30.

He is claimed to be a Moroccan and Libyan national.

Meanwhile, 12 people arrested after the incident as part of the investigation have now been released without charge.

The terror attack which hit London on Saturday claimed seven lives.