A Brisbane university professor has been slammed online after calling Islam “a cancer” in the wake of the latest London terrorist attack.

Brian McNair, 57, took to Twitter on Sunday after seven people were killed and 48 were injured by three attackers on London Bridge.

“Enough! Islam is a cancer on the planet. It must be destroyed, or reformed. Soon. Zero tolerance!” the journalism professor wrote.

Dr McNair has been widely criticised on Twitter for the comment.

“Brian McNair went from ‘respected commentator’ to ‘your sleazy racist uncle’ pretty quickly,” author and historian Jon Piccini wrote.

https://twitter.com/KetanJ0/status/871506695020716032

Ketan Joshi said the professor was adding fuel to the fire.

“Dude. You’re a professor of communication. How do you not understand you’re just pouring high-energy fuel into a racist furnace?” Mr Joshi said.

“Can you clarify what you mean by ‘zero tolerance’? Internment for anyone adhering to a specific religion? How shall we round them up, Brian?”

Others praised Dr McNair for his “brave statement” and for “speaking out”.

Queensland University of Technology was forced to distance itself from Dr McNair, who works as a lecturer at the university.

“QUT does not endorse or condone these personal comments. These views do not reflect those of the university,” the moderator said in response to each tweet critical of the professor.

Some on Twitter have called on the university to fire Dr McNair.

A QUT spokesperson declined to comment further when approached by The New Daily.

Dr McNair has also rejected the defence that Islam is a religion of peace.

“It is a religion of hate, misogyny, homophobia & antisemitism. How to defeat it?” he wrote on Twitter.

“Muslims are not the problem. Migrants are not the problem. The problem is Islam, & what it inspires people to do.”

In the days before the terrorist attack he referred to the religion as “toxic”.

QUT does not endorse or condone these personal comments. These views do not reflect those of the university.

— QUT (@QUT) June 5, 2017

Dr McNair shared video footage of Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus performing the Crowded House hit Don’t Dream It’s Over at the Manchester tribute concert.

“Strong, sexy women slap Islam in the face,” he said alongside the video.

Dr McNair has been a professor of journalism, media and communication at QUT since 2010, according to his LinkedIn account.

He is a regular contributor to The Conversation website, writing on journalism, political communication, popular culture and mediated sexuality.

He is also a contributor at ABC News 24, Sky News and BBC World, according to his bio on The Conversation.

The New Daily has contacted Dr McNair and QUT for comment.