MORE than 100 people gathered outside Blackburn's town hall as a sign of unity and to remember those who were killed during the New Zealand terror attack.
After a minutes silenced was observed, community leaders spoke to the crowd, which included men, women, children, firefighters and police officers.
At least 50 people were murdered and several injured at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday.
Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said "I'd like to thank you all coming together.
"We are here this afternoon to show our unity to the people of New Zealand and pay our respect to those victims of the terror attack which took the lives of 50 people.
"These people are criminals, they want to divide us and we are here to send a message quite clear to them, we are united and we condemn them and these attacks.
"They cannot divide us and we must make sure we are united with one voice and send a message to these criminals - you are not going to win."
New Zealand's prime minister has said gun law reforms will be announced within 10 days in the wake of the mosque shootings in Christchurch that killed 50 people.
Three days after the attack, New Zealand's deadliest shooting in modern history, relatives were anxiously waiting for word on when they can bury their loved ones.
Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be cleansed and buried as soon as possible after death, usually within 24 hours.
Rev Canon Brian McConkey, from Blackburn Cathedral, said: "With the dean, the cathedral and our bishops we stand together with Muslims in Lancashire and across world in the treasured belief people should be able to life and worship without fear and threat of harm.
"No matter how many times these random acts of killing across the world we be in steadfast in the face of evil."
Abdul Quereshi, chief officer of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, and Derek Estill from the Interfaith Forum also paid their respects.
Brenton Harrison Tarrant, an Australian citizen who lived in New Zealand, appeared in court on Saturday where the judge read one murder charge and said more charges would likely follow.
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