Why the women who held hands on Westminster Bridge were wearing blue

The women who gathered on Westminster Bridge in solidarity with the victims of last week’s terror attack wore blue ‘as a symbol of hope in the face of fear, division and hatred.’

The group, many of whom were Muslims, held hands for five minutes as Big Ben chimed 4pm in the spot where terrorist Khalid Masood drove a car into a crowd of people.

People from a range of backgrounds took part in the event, which was organised by Women’s March on London.

The group invited women to ‘come together at this time when tensions intensify in our communities.’

Some of those who took part spoke about the ‘overwhelming’ emotions they felt as they formed a human chain along the bridge where three people were killed and many more injured just days earlier.

A number of Ahmadiyya Muslim women were present, and said that they wished to condemn the violence that tore through the capital last week, as well as standing defiant in the face of terrorism.

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Fariha Khan, 40, a GP from Surbiton, said: “The feeling of what happened here on Wednesday was really strong.

“We thought of the ordinary people who were here and were mown down, standing here like this, it was very overwhelming.”

Sarah Waseem, 57, from Surrey, said: “When an attack happens in London, it is an attack on me.

“It is an attack on all of us. Islam totally condemns violence of any sort. This is abhorrent to us.”

The terror attack on Wednesday left five people, including the killer Khalid Masood, dead. The attacker mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before fatally stabbing Police Constable Keith Palmer within the grounds of the Palace of Westminster.

Hundreds attended a vigil in Trafalgar Square the day after the violence, and Londoners shared messages of solidarity in the wake of the atrocity.