“THEY are not Muslims, they are criminals” – that was the response of a Bournemouth Imam as he condemned the Paris terrorist attack and appealed for community cohesion.

Majid Yasin, the director of Bournemouth Islamic Centre, also called on Muslims to be alert for any signs of radicalisation amongst friends and families.

After Friday prayers at the Mosque yesterday, he and John Abdul Halim, who is in charge of community relations for the St Stephens’ Road mosque, urged worshippers to show solidarity and unity against the terrorists.

Mr Yasin said the attack on Charlie Hebdo, which left 10 journalists and two police officers dead, had left the Muslim community “deeply upset.”

“It doesn’t matter what religion these people are, they are criminals, they are terrorists,” he said.

“I believe they are not human beings, they are of another world. This is a crime and I condemn it. We all condemn it.

“We should as Muslims reject any radicalised people like these people.

“We must not accept them in our society. We should be looking at our children, our younger generation.

“Every family should be aware of their children, where they are going, who they are meeting with.

“The government also has a duty through the curriculum to raise awareness in schools. We need to integrate communities.” The attack on the satirical magazine, which had published cartoons of Mohammed highly offensive to Muslims, has opened a debate on free speech.

Mr Yasin said: “You can say what you want to say, but be respectful. Religion should be a red line, it’s very, very sensitive.”

Mr Halim, 76, converted to Islam four-and-a-half years ago.

He said he was “absolutely horrified” by Wednesday’s massacre and said: “The Islam that I know and have always experienced is about peace, kindness and support for each other.

“We say ‘peace to you’ and we really mean it.”

Hussain Aldossari, a 28-year-old Bournemouth University student, said: “Every Muslim knows this attack has nothing to do with Islam.

“The people who have done this were shouting in the name of Allah but they are not representative of Muslims and the values of Islam.”