COMMUNITY leaders met with councillors and Harrow police to agree a united stand against terrorism yesterday (Monday).

The meeting at the Civic Centre was chaired by council leader Councillor Chris Motes and among those present was Chief Inspector Louis Smith, community development portfolio holder Councillor Anjana Patel, and the council's director for learning and culture, Javed Khan.

They joined representatives from organisations such as the Pakistan Society of Harrow, the Iranian Association of Harrow and Harrow Association for Somali Voluntary Organisations in a frank discussion on how Harrow could remain a "terrorism free zone" in the wake of last week's major terror alert.

Councillor Mote said: "We should not name terrorism to any one group.

"It should not be related to one community, so we don't tar one group or put a handle on the community.

"99.9 per cent of us are peace-loving and act in that way to our fellow countrymen.

The group agreed that Harrow is a multi-racial borough and home to many different communities which form the capital's diverse makeup.

Chief Inspector Smith said there had been no backlash against local Muslims.

"Harrow is largely family based," he said.

"There is no better way to mix than by taking your children to school.

"People are secure here and feel secure and that is great."

Sonoo Malkani, chairwoman of Harrow Police Community Consultative Group said she believed that tragedies such as last year's Tube and bus bombings could be avoided if young people were given a voice and more people listened to their grievances.

She said: "Before young people are brainwashed, we need to get to them at a younger age.

"We need to get parents and teachers involved to beat the problem before any damage is done."

The spirit of solidarity in Harrow makes a refreshing change to the constant media focus on disillusioned youths searching for answers.

Rizwan Mirza of Harrow Central Mosque, in Station Road, said: "What sometimes is pre-supposed is that the Muslim community knows that something is going on.

"But we have got nothing to apologise for: there are problems in all communities.

"I go to Harrow Mosque every day and I know that there is nothing going on there, but we are made to feel like something is happening.

"People might snarl at us as we leave the mosque but we won't respond because we are older.

"But there are youngsters who do react.

"We are not justifying what has happened, we are trying to explain it."