MANCHESTER – A woman in hijab pictured helping victims after the Manchester New Year Eve attack has been hailed as “far more reflective” of the Muslim community than the attacker, The Standard reported.
The attack led to injuring 3 people, including a British Transport Police officer, at Manchester Victoria station.
“Awful news but Manchester has shown how it responds to those who try to divide us,” profile solicitor Nazir Afzal said.
“The woman with hijab helping victims is far more reflective of Muslims than the idiot with a knife.
“Wishing a speedy recovery to those harmed.”
A suspect was alleged to have shouted Islamist slogans as he was bundled into a police van.
The photos of the woman in hijab went viral on social media, with many users praising her.
This woman in the hijab helping the victims of the Manchester attack, as well as all the police and bystanders who jumped in, shows why we will win and they will lose. Makes you proud. pic.twitter.com/Oj4Qsxv3Qg
— Jake Wallis Simons (@JakeWSimons) January 1, 2019
“The woman in the hijab shows the caring side of humanity and reflects well on the reality of the Muslim community. She deserves our thanks,” a Twitter user wrote.
Another said: “Reading reports about the Victoria Station attack and got to say the only photo that should go viral is of the Muslim lady wearing a hijab helping the victims. Good people exist. We can’t let the actions of a few taint our view of the many.”
Journalist Jake Simons added: “This woman in the hijab helping the victims of the Manchester attack, as well as all the police and bystanders who jumped in, shows why we will win and they will lose. Makes you proud.”
The attack scene was close to the Manchester Arena where suicide attack in May 2017 left twenty-two people, including children, killed and 59 injured in at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
Following the attack, Muslim cab drivers rushed to help, offering free lifts home to victims and their families. A Muslim charity, Human Appeal, also launched an appeal to raise money for the victims and their families.
Islam is the second largest religion in the UK with results from the 2011 Census giving as much as 2,786,635, 4.4% of the total population.