A DEFIANT stand was taken against terror at a vigil for the London attack victims.

The event at the Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Bolton invited people to pay their respects to the four people who were killed in the atrocity.

It was organised by the Bolton Interfaith Council and representatives from faith organisations and Bolton Council were in attendance.

Visitors listened to the tributes before lighting candles in the name of peace.

Cllr John Walsh, from Bolton Council, said: “In reflecting on the events of Wednesday, while we condemn the actions of what appears to be one person acting alone for whatever reason, we must not lose site of the fact that the attack at the very heart of our democracy at the Houses of Parliament has left lives shattered.

“In remembering those who lost their lives, we must also remember those who suffer and the families whose lives have been turned around by those sad events.”

Saidmohammed Akuji, from the Bolton Council of Mosques, said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their loved ones and those who have been injured and affected by the tragedy in London.

“They are not alone, we all stand together with them.

“Their grief is our grief.

“At these difficult challenging times we must stand together and must not be defeated. It’s times like these that our faith and friendship are tested and we pray for courage and response to all evil with truth, justice and reconciliation.”

One of the temple’s youngest members, Milan Vekaria, aged eight, also gave a touching tribute at the event yesterday. He said: “The mayhem caused by one terrorist spreading hatred has ruined many innocent precious lives in a matter of a few short minutes.

“Today families are robbed of their loved ones, children without their mummy or daddy, wives and husbands leave families who will not see them and their lives will not be the same again.”

Maullana Faruk Ali, from Bolton Interfaith Council, said: “With this evil act, people’s status changed overnight.

“The wealthy became poor, healthy became sick, children became orphans and partners or spouses became widows.

“It is our duty and responsibility to remember, help and pray for them in whichever way we can.

“Because all of mankind, in spite of difference of colour, language, faith and nationality, is a single brotherhood.

“The route of wisdom after religion is to love people and do good to everyone.”

Four people were killed when Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing his car and stabbing officer PC Keith Palmer.

The attacker was then shot by an armed security officer of Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.

He later died from his injuries.

The other three victims have been named as Aysha Frade, a 43-year-old British mother, Kurt Cochran, a US tourist from Utah and 75-year-old Leslie Rhodes from south London.