Muslims in England and around the world have condemned the bombing attacks in London that killed 54 and injured scores of others.

And rightly so. It is horrifying to any right-thinking Muslim that someone would kill and maim innocents in the name of Islam.

But there is another step in all this that must be taken. It is not good enough to merely condemn the obvious. Muslims of all stripes, religious leaders, political and community leaders, educators and family members, must commit themselves to the task of eradicating the terrorist stain wherever it emerges.

And agreed, this is not solely a "Muslim" problem. Terror is a weapon used by many who do not cloak themselves in Islam.

And in fact, evidence emerging in England suggests those involved in the bombings were as motivated by despair and frustration as they were by any real religious motivation.

One major problem is that some people, particularly young or impressionable people, have come to the conclusion that bombings such as those in England are as morally justified as attacks on "occupying" or enemy forces.

Here's how Sayed Mohammed Musawi, head of the World Islamic League in London, put it this week:

"There should be a clear distinction between the suicide bombing of those who are trying to defend themselves from occupiers, which is something different from those who kill civilians, which is a big crime."

Musawi blamed the Western media for creating this confusion in the minds of impressionable Muslim youth. There may be an argument there, but comments suggesting that suicide bombing is acceptable in the proper place and time seem particularly dangerous.

We'd rather endorse another point, made by Musawi and other leaders, in a formal statement. Racism, unemployment and economic deprivation are alienating some young people and driving them toward a path of anger and desperation, they noted.

The response, they said, should be to deal with the underlying causes of alienation.

At the same time, it is critical that all Muslims cooperate with authorities to investigate and punish these crimes.