VIDEO: Rotherham unites in message to New Zealand in wake of terror attack

NOT in our name — Rotherham stood united after the gunman behind the New Zealand mosques massacre linked his atrocity to the town.

Australian suspect Brenton Tarrant (28) had “For Rotherham” written on his ammunition when he struck in Christchurch — a reference to so-called Muslim child grooming gangs.

The Advertiser arranged a town centre vigil as a demonstration of solidarity following the terror attack, which claimed 50 lives.

Our production director Jamie Ollivent also placed a wreath alongside hundreds of floral tributes outside Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens to show the people of New Zealand that the massacre was not “For Rotherham”, with the message: “Sending condolences from Rotherham, UK, at this tragic time. We share your pain and sorrow. Hate will not triumph.” 

Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley said of the public show of unity at Rotherham’s Minster Gardens last Wednesday: “We wanted to bring together people from all cultures, faiths and backgrounds to tell the world that the atrocity carried out in Christchurch was not done for, on behalf of or in the name of Rotherham.

“Whatever your beliefs or political views, and they go right across the spectrum in Rotherham, no-one here believes that what happened in New Zealand is a solution of any kind. 

“We stand with Christchurch and the rest of the world in opposition to what this person has done, which has caused unnecessary loss of life and, for those who survived, mental and physical scars that will never heal.”

There were increased high-visibility police patrols at all 12 Rotherham mosques following the shootings at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques, Christchurch, during Friday prayers last week.

Here, our vigil by the Heart of Steel statue in Minster Gardens on Wednesday was attended by dozens of people from all parts of the community.

After, Paul Douglas, Rotherham United chief operating officer, said: “The reason here we are here is to stand strong as a symbol of our town and community, distancing Rotherham from any motives that were put forward when this atrocity was committed.

“We work as hard as we can to engender community relations. We are proud to say that, along with a lot of others in Rotherham who do the same.”

And Cllr Saghir Alam, chairman of Rotherham Council of Mosques, added: “No-one should go to prayers and never come home and this connection with Rotherham is unfair. 

“People should not be using that to create harm for others. But it just highlighted the world that we’re living in. It’s what we need to challenge. There has to be zero tolerance of hate crime.”

There was also reaction to the Rotherham link from MPs, including Sarah Champion, who said: “The attempt to use Rotherham to justify this sickening, racist mass murder is grotesque. My heart goes out to the victims and survivors. 

“I want to send a clear message to the people of New Zealand that Rotherham joins you in rejecting hatred and standing up against Islamophobia.”

Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey added: “It deeply offends us all that the killer could claim to carry out these truly horrifying murders in the name of our community.

“This was an extreme and evil act, rightly condemned across the world. We stand in solidarity with the citizens of Christchurch, and in sympathy with the families of those who’ve died.”