A group of Malaysian students have sought to create goodwill between Muslims and non-Muslims in the United Kingdom following Tuesday's terrorist attack in Manchester, by handing out free ice lollies.

Muhammad Fariq Bukhari Samsudin and his four friends gave out the free ice lollies at the University of Essex on Thursday, in exchange for messages of peace from the recipients.

Fariq said the idea came from a conversation he had with a friend, about how devastating the attack was.

"I went for a football match there just a week before the tragedy and it struck me hard because it could have happened during that time as well.

"I just wanted to do something to let people to know that we are deeply affected as well. So for whatever reason, don't hate us Muslims," he told Malaysiakini.

Fariq said he bought the ice lollies from the extra money he had earned working part-time as a retail assistant with the university's student union.

The four then went around campus wearing cardboard signs that people could write on or paste sticky notes with short messages of peace on it.

The final year law student said there were concerns at first that they may face a backlash from racists.

"But my friends said just roll with it, and insya'allah (God willing) nothing bad will happen.

"On that day, nobody made any racial remarks. Everyone who took the lollies were supportive, alhamdulillah (thank God)," he said.

'Lack of understanding'

There were some however who questioned whether giving out frozen treats would resolve any animosity against Muslims in the UK.

But Fariq said those against the effort were just a small group, who did not disturb him and his friends.

Heartened by his experience, the Perak native said he is planning to introduce Ramadan to his non-Muslim friends so they can break fast together.

"I think the root of the problem is that most of the people don't even understand Islam.

"So in our small capacity, we should introduce it to them.

"If they don't like it, at least we have done our part," Fariq said.

Twenty-two people were killed in Manchester in the attack, which occurred when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a pop concert.

The bomber was identified as a man of Libyan descent, who had reportedly been radicalised.