MANCHESTER – Hearing news of the horrendous attack on Manchester Arena, Muslim cab drivers rushed to help, offering free lifts home to victims and their families.
Muslims trending again. Think of the Muslim taxi drivers, doctors, police working through the night before spreading your hate. #Manchester
— Mark Benham (@markbmcfc) May 23, 2017
#Manchester: Muslim taxi drivers drove ppl home for free; Muslims opened homes to give shelter to ppl. THIS is what #Islam is about.
— Lynda Bowyer (@lyndabowyer) May 23, 2017
Twenty-two people, including children, have been killed and 59 injured in a suicide attack at Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
Police said the lone male attacker, who died in the blast, detonated an improvised explosive device.
Manchester based Imam, Abu Eesa Niamatullah posted the following message on Facebook calling on people to assist in whatever way they can.
Minhaj College also offered a place and food for stranded people after the attack.
Anyone stranded in #Manchester can rest & eat at our college. 5mins from city. Near Trafford Bar stn. #RoomForManchester #ManchesterArena pic.twitter.com/wZv61RMtQa
— Minhaj College Manc (@MinhajCollegeUK) May 23, 2017
Praise for these acts of kindness poured in on social media, along with offers of help.
@JoshhWoods @mattjcorner Absolutely a muslim driver took me home last night gave me water and charged my phone. Absolutely stars in my eyes.
— Mark (@marktitman) May 23, 2017
FYI: The majority of taxi drivers in/around Manchester are Muslim and they are currently doing a lot to help. They aren’t the bad guys.
— georgecrump. (@ourkidgeorge) May 22, 2017
how are you going to label all Muslims as terrorists when Muslim taxi drivers etc are offering lifts and raising awareness about missing ppl
— puta (@KATNlSSLAWRENCE) May 23, 2017
David Walker, bishop of Manchester, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program,”My message to the Muslim community is: you are one with us. Just as you were yesterday, you are one with us. Part of us. A vital part of us. You will go on being a vital part of us.”
Walker condemned the few reactions blaming the attack on Muslims.
“You will be part of how we together respond to last night, how we together repair the damage, rebuild what’s destroyed and and go forward as the fantastic, diverse community we are,” he said, referring to Muslims.
“Already this morning, when I first made a comment on social media, the trolls were up and about and presenting their malign influence. But they are a very tiny minority and one we need to isolate in this.
“Most of us are good at distinguishing what is the truth in this. We know, again and again, a little phrase: love wins.”