Faith leaders came together in a show of unity against terrorism and the division it seeks to create in light of this year’s attacks in London and Manchester.

The Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association invited figureheads from local Christian and Sikh communities, as well as councillors, policemen, and others from the community, to join them in condemning terror and promoting togetherness at the mosque in Albion Terrace, Gravesend.

Chairman Mohammad Ejaz Aslam, who organised the gathering in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) and Gravesham council, said: “It distresses me when we see in this country and in countries abroad these acts of terrorism and the killing of innocent people.

“The saddest thing is that these people claim to come from a religion, namely the religion of Islam, a religion that has passed down the message of peace.

“We will not be beaten by extremism. We will come together with love and respect for one another.”

KECC CEO Gurvinder Sandher said the meeting was arranged at short notice because it was important to show communities coming together, with a mosque in Gillingham having been targeted by protesters following the Manchester bombing.

Twenty-two people, including children, were killed when Salman Abedi detonated a bomb as concert-goers left an Ariana Grande gig at the Manchester Arena on Monday, May 22.

It came two months after Dartford-born Khalid Masood killed four people when he drove into pedestrians outside Westminster on Wednesday, March 22.

He then fatally stabbed policeman Keith Palmer before being shot dead by another officer.

Mr Sandher said: “Terrorists are looking to divide our communities and what we’re doing is exactly what they don’t want to see.

“In Gravesham we have always been very proud of our community relations. It’s very important that we stand together at a time like this.”

Among those who gave speeches at the interfaith event were representatives from the Gravesend Gurdwara, the Reverend Richard Martin, and Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Harold Craske.

Gravesham parliamentary candidates Adam Holloway (Con), Mandy Garford (Lab), James Willis (Lib), and Marna Gilligan (Green) also attended.

Mr Holloway recently flew to Iraq to meet refugees running from Isis in the city of Mosul, having previously spent time in war zones such as Syria, Libya and Iraq in his previous careers as a soldier and TV foreign correspondent.

He said those committing terrorist attacks in the name of Islam were ‘maniacs and losers’ who were ‘a massive problem’ for Muslim countries.

“We have to understand that the group that are the biggest victims of these losers are Sunni Muslims,” he said.

“These are the people who are primarily suffering from this appalling cancer. We should absolutely be in support of Muslims and the Muslim world against these idiots.”

Muslims have been celebrating Ramadan since Friday, March 26, which sees them refraining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk before enjoying a huge meal with friends and family.

It comes to an end on Saturday, June 24, marked by the festival of Eid. All are invited to celebrate with the local Muslim community in Gravesend’s Community Square from 2pm until 4pm on Saturday, July 1.