ANOTHER day; another terrorist atrocity on the streets of Britain. It is easy to wonder when this is ever going to end, and as the Prime Minister was quick to point out, the fact that yesterday’s attack in Finsbury Park targeted Muslims makes it no less sickening than the recent incidents in London and Manchester.

The targeting of Islamic worshippers returning from prayer is an alarming development, even by the depressing standards of the last few weeks.

This is exactly what extremists on the fringe of society want.

They seek to divide Britain into ‘them’ and ‘us’. They want chaos and fear to foster resentment and enmity. They cower in the face of cohesion and use their abhorrent world views to try to justify murder.

They cannot be allowed to succeed, and now more than ever, it is important that Britain is united in condemning all forms of terrorism and violence.

As Mrs May was right to state yesterday: “There has been far too much tolerance of extremism over many years.”

That applies to some members of the Islamic community, but also reflects a reluctance amongst some members of the political class to speak out against the spread of Islamophobia in the wake of recent attacks and the way in which social media is increasingly being used to spread xenophobic far-right views.

Just as internet companies are being urged to prevent the spread of radical Islam, so they should be doing more to clamp down on a racist backlash that is every bit as damaging.

Hatred, of any kind, cannot be tolerated. These are difficult times, but only by standing together will we defeat the terrorists.