Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
British Prime Minister
10 Downing Street ,
London ,
SW1A 2AA

30 th July 2005

Dear Prime Minister,

Somali Concern Group welcomes the capture of all four Bomb suspects by the police. SCG would like to praise the tremendous and outstanding work that the police undertook the last couple of weeks. Somalis in the UK were extremely shocked and saddened by the tragic events in central London on 7 th and 21 st July 2005. We understand from the media that Yasin Hassan Omar is believed to be a Somali Origin, however, we find no one who had a contact or knows him. Therefore, Somalis where ever they are believe that he may not belong to the community and hope that the police will be able to establish his ethnicity. We are appalled and shocked to hear that a young British from Somalia could think of murdering innocent people. It is beyond our imagination. Our thoughts are with those victims of terrorist attacks in London.

SCG is willing to work with the government and the police with a view to eradicate those individuals who are ready to blow up themselves and took other lives away. There should be no justification at all to commit such atrocities. As you are aware there is large Somali Community in UK and they are good citizens of this country, majority of them are British Citizens who contribute to the society in every sector in the society.

Some of the Somalis in UK are currently working either in Local Authorities, civil services or working in different sectors in the society, such as Bus Drivers. Some are studying in every level of the education. However, there are individuals in every society who cannot understand the importance of life and causing damage to their community and to the society at large. Yasin Hassan Omar (if found guilty) will be the first person to put the name of the community on the spotlight with a negative image.

SCG would like to thank the UK leaders to deny victory to the terrorists whose intention is to divide us and change our way of life which is a view that we all share with you. Unfortunately, some of the news papers are creating an atmosphere of hatred and fear and putting our names in the frame of unhelpful by implying that Somalis are behind those atrocities that took place in London. This does not help the society, in particular, it could attract some individuals like BNP to take advantage of the situation and create an atmosphere of hostility.

The Government and the Police do have a role to protect ethnic minorities within the society, therefore, I would request that you put a pressure to the media organizations with a view for them to report to the society in a fair way which reflects to those individuals who are guilty of carrying out such atrocities rather than blaming the whole community. We also need from the Government and the Police Authority to assure us that the community will not be targeted or discriminated because of their ethnicity.

There are incidents that Somali families where subjected to a raid to their property and in one case the police took a family away. After the police finished their investigations the family was allowed to go back in to their home, however, this particular family did not wish to go back to a place where media and neighbours are aware of the circumstances. But the police refused to offer an alternative accommodation to the family. Therefore, we request you that those families who are subject to a raid and found not guilty to be considered to an alternative accommodations by Local Authorities with a view to avoid any repercussions or backlashes.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Abdirahman Omar Osman
Chairperson of Somali Concern Group (SCG)
E-mail: [email protected]

Cc: Ken Levingston, Mayor of London
Cc: Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis