The family of London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt have condemned the attack in which eight people were killed and dozens more seriously injured and said they were “shocked and appalled” by his actions.
The 27-year-old was one of three men who struck pedestrians on London Bridge with a rented van before stabbing diners and drinkers at bars and restaurants in Borough Market while wearing fake suicide vests.
Butt’s family said: “As a family we are shocked and appalled by the actions of Khuram and his associates. We strongly condemn these actions. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families at this time. Now more than ever we need to work together to stop the actions of the mindless few who claim to be acting in the name of Islam.”
The family’s statement follows comments made earlier on Wednesday by Charisse O’Leary, the former wife of another of the terrorists, Rachid Redouane.
She said she was “deeply shocked, saddened and numbed” by the actions of her former partner, from whom she separated six months ago. “Since discovering that it was Rachid that was responsible I have shed many tears for the people caught up in this horrific incident,” O’Leary said.
“We have a beautiful young daughter, that for the last six months has been our only bond and reason for contact. My thoughts and efforts now are with trying to bring up my daughter with the knowledge that someday I will have to try and explain to her why her father did what he did.”
O’Leary added: “I wish to make it absolutely clear, so there can be no doubt, I condemn his actions and do not support the beliefs he held that led to him committing this atrocity.”
Meanwhile, the mother of Youssef Zaghba, the third terrorist shot dead by police in Borough Market on Saturday night, said she was horrified after learning he had taken part in the attack.
Valeria Khadija Collina, who lives near Bologna in Italy, said she had told police her son was missing after Saturday’s attack. She feared he had gone into hiding because he knew one of the other attackers: “I was afraid. I thought, what is going to happen? Is he going to hide for the rest of his life?”
Collina said she understood the anguish felt by the family and friends of those killed and injured in the attack and vowed to try to prevent other young Muslims from becoming radicalised.
“I will try, from this moment on, to do all I can to make sure these things are not repeated,” she said.
